Mutai targets Olympics medal

MTN Athlete of the Year Award

Athlete of the year: Solomon Mutai

Upcoming (girls) Peruth Chemutai

Upcoming (boys) Abel Chebet

After being crowned athlete of the year, an Olympic medal is his next target.

"I want to emulate Stephen Kiprotich with back to back awards. That can best happen if I also excel in Brazil," stated Mutai.
Kiprotich who didn't feature in the colourful UAF awards on Saturday night, was crowned 2012 and 2013 champion after triumphing at the Olympics and World Championships.

There was celebration as Mutai was declared winner in Sheraton Hotel's Rwenzori ballroom.

Mutai beat a strong field of five other contenders on the strength of his performance at last year's IAAF World Championships in Beijing, China.

He clocked two hours 13:29 to win bronze in the marathon where defending champion Kiprotich was sixth.

Mutai was also Uganda's best performer at the world cross-country. He finished ninth helping Uganda to fifth overall in the junior men's eight kilometre race.

World mountain running champions Stella Chesang and Fred Musobo were first and second runners-ups respectively in the MTN sponsored event.

The other contender Dorcus Ajok won 1500m gold at the World University Games.

The fifth nominee Janat Chemusto won two bronze at the Commonwealth Youth Championships in Samoa. She also won five other medals at Africa and East Africa level.

The sixth contender Joshua Cheptegei, a world junior champion the previous season, won gold at the Africa junior championships.

Gender, Labour and Social Affairs Minister Muruli Mukasa represented Prime Minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda as chief guest.

Uganda Athletics Federation president Domenic Otuchet used the occasion to highlight the achievements of the body.