Athletes look for positives from National Trials

Mar 23, 2016

Olympic champion Stephen Kiprotich watched from the sidelines and was seen talking to and advising athletes

Peter Kibet gave the second national track and field trials a needed climax, after coming from behind to beat Michael Chemtegen in the men's 5000m event at Namboole on Saturday afternoon.

But regardless of the race, there was nothing positive to write home about, save for the fact that the athletes were gaining the desired fitness as they target to fight for places at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Kibet ran 13 minutes 56.6 seconds, a promising early season time to win as sprinter Shida Leni also took a sprint a double, the only double on Saturday.

In a race that attracted 38 runners in the afternoon trial, Kibet never looked to be among the favourites earlier in the men's 5000m race, though this changed as the race developed.

With five of the 12 and half lap race gone, he squeezed himself in the lead pack as the competitive field narrowed with the other athletes that were being over lapped dropping off as per the rules.

He stayed in the lead pack that had team mate and training partner Martin Chemtegen, Kamuli's John Kateregga, Arua's Anthony Ayeko and Standard Club's Stephen Chebet.

Olympic champion Stephen Kiprotich watched from the sidelines and was seen talking to and advising athletes.

However as the pace increased, Chemtegen took the lead with Kibet chasing on from about 15 meters behind as the others fell off.

It was in the second last lap that  Kibet caught up resulting into the lead being exchanged between the two before Kibet ran a solo 400m, to come home in a time of  13 minutes and 56.6 seconds which is over 33 seconds off the qualifying mark.

"It is too early to call. I need to train harder and also get some competitors to see that I qualify," he said after the race that was using hand times because there were no blanks to fire the start gun in the whole region.

UPDF's Simon Ayeko managed to win the men's steeplechase event in a lone run as Jacob Araptany failed to turn up as earlier expected, while Shida Leni won both the women's 100m and 200m events.

Police's Ali Ngaimoko announced his comeback from injury by winning the men's 400m beating Prison's Benson Oyuku by over a second.

The positive in the race was that former up comer Jacqueline Cherutwo, who has been off the track for over five years was made a comeback and finished third in the 800m women event that was won by Dorcus Ajok.

UAF publicist Namayo Mawerere said they expect better times in the next events as the athletes return coming from a rest period.

National trials winners

Women

100m: Shida Leni (Police) 12.1

200m: Shida Leni (Police) 24.3

400m: Sheila Womuku (prisons) 58.2

1500m: Dorcus Ajok (Prisons) 4:30.1

10000m: Rebecca Cheptegei (UPDF) 34:48.1

Javelin:  Lucy Abel (Police) 46.83

Short Put: Peace Mirembe (Air Force) 10.65

 

Men

100m: Musa Isabirye (Prisons) 10.5

200m: Mike Ssenono (UCU) 21.5

400m: Ali Ngaimoko (Police) 47.5

800m: Farid Wabutwa (MUBS) 1:50.3

3000mSC: Simon Ayeko (UPDF) 9:06.17

5000m: Peter Kibet (Prisons) 13:56.6

L/jump: Alfred Okot (Prisons) 7.15

H/jump: Emma Okello (Ndejje) 1.80

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