The shining star of Ajok gets brighter

Mar 07, 2018

With both her rivals Halima Nakaayi and Winnie Nanyondo away in South Africa the onus was on the Ndejje athlete

The 7th UAF National Athletics Trial, ahead of the Commonwealth Games in Australia, had an aura about it only an attendee could have felt.

The crowd was in a more buoyant mood than usual and they all did their part to push these athletes when need called for it. Of the events that took place no run was more supreme than Dorcus Ajok's 800m on her way to qualifying for the games in a time of 2:00.02.

With both her rivals Halima Nakaayi and Winnie Nanyondo away in South Africa the onus was on the Ndejje athlete to run against herself to produce that magic.

Ajok did it with help from most everyone in the stadium and not her opponents who all fell away after the first lap. When she crossed the line, it was clear that something had happened.

The elation when the electronic system times came in was worth a picture as fans, officials and all celebrated with her.

Laboured steeplechase
Where Ajok pulled off the solo act it felt like Police Athletics Club athlete Peruth Chemutai was hard done by the lack of competition. Sylvia Chelangat who finished second was almost a minute behind her which was why her pace was off the mark.

However, athletics coach Absolom Ojwang believes even if the field was fuller the girls would not have qualified.

"They wouldn't have qualified because the girls need competition. The women's field isn't competitive ever since Inzikuru left and on top of that athletics is voluntary," he said.

"The other thing is that it's difficult for the women to qualify in hurdles, they need more work in future. Where most of them are specialists in the 3000 flat the hurdles tend to be difficult," he added.

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