Akii Bua Memorial Championships
Jun 02, 2018
The meeting also offers the last chance at qualification for the junior event in Tempere, Finland before the door is shut.
ATHLETICS
Date: Saturday, June 2
Venue: Namboole
Athletes will have the added incentive of cash prizes as they push for qualification to the World U-20 Championships.
Uganda Athletics Federation is offering sh50,000 for each race winner at the Akii Bua Memorial taking place on Saturday at Namboole.
The meeting also offers the last chance at qualification for the junior event in Tempere, Finland before the door is shut.
Runners-up will take home sh30,000 while the second runner-up gets to earn sh20,000.
At the same time today's track and field meeting at Namboole, will set the stage for athletes who want to hit the set standards for the Africa Senior Championship in Nigeria, next August.
"Though not with us today, he (Akii Bua) remains a household name and inspires the current young generation of athletes," said Uganda Athletics Federation vice president Omony Okot.
It is for that reason that UAF intends to extend the legendary runner's legacy to Africa by turning the Akii Bua meeting into an event that transcends the borders of Uganda.
Fifteen track and field competition events are earmarked to celebrate the life of Akii Bua that will be highlighted by the 400m hurdles, where he won gold in a world record time of 47.82 at the Munich Olympics.
The hurdler's time at the 1972 Olympics still stands as a national record and UAF spokesman Namayo Mawerere described Akii Bua as a man with "a remarkable technique and an excellent basic speed."