I was under pressure - Nambawa

By Norman Katende

Sarah Nambawa concedes she was under pressure  and that impacted on her performance at the Africa Athletics Championships.

Nambawa had a big fifth jump to 13.90m and though it was 0.2m short of the Olympic qualifying mark, was enough to see her retain her title as Africa Champion on the last day of the Africa Athletics championships here in Benin.

The American based jumper, who had pre-championships training in Ghana, where her coach Andrew Owusu hails from, found herself on the backtrack as she had the 3rd best jump among those who had qualified for more three jumps.

“I was under pressure but I had self-belief that I will make it. Oh my God.  At least it was not a double loss,” said an excited Nambawa after being decorated the Africa Champion for the second time.

Benjamin Kiplagat had won Uganda her first medal, a 3000m steeplechase bronze medal after he again failed to beat the Kenyans.

Nambawa says that the medal has been made possible for her supporters in America, Uganda and Ghana, were she camped.

“In fact the Ghana national team supported me so much and  I am indebted to them,” she said.

Nambawa, who was hurt by her not making the qualification mark says that she is in good shape and she will try to jump above 14.10m   when she takes part in Friday’s Ghana CAA grand prix race in Kumasi.

Him, and Ugandan sprinter Ali Ngaimoko have been invited for the race, which will give most African athletes an opportunity to hit the qualifying mark of the London 2012 Olympic Games for the last time. The games are due to start later this month and the qualifying windows for the track and field event ends 7 days to the start of the games.

They both travelled with the Ghana national team back to Kumasi, a four-hour drive from  Cotonou.