Canadian picks X-Country team's travel
Mar 15, 2011
CANADIAN Carl Keirstead has offered $5,000 (sh12m) to enable the national junior women team travel to Punta, Umbria, Spain for the World Cross Country championships due on Sunday.
By Norman Katende
CANADIAN Carl Keirstead has offered $5,000 (sh12m) to enable the national junior women team travel to Punta, Umbria, Spain for the World Cross Country championships due on Sunday.
The donation came after Keirstead, who has been sponsoring the annual Bukwo Road Run, learnt about the athletics federation’s lack of funds to fly a team to Spain. The junior women team won a bronze medal in Dubai last year. Federation treasurer Godfrey Nuwagaba confirmed Keirstead’s offer.
“He has already sent the money and it will cater for the air tickets for the junior women team. This is where his interest lies,†Nuwagaba explained.
But in order not to be caught off guard, the executive committee has decided to borrow money from friends so that the remaining three teams also travel.
“We are still waiting for a word from government but the money might come in late. We are moving in to borrow sh40m for the rest of the team,†added Nuwagaba.
On top of the junior women team, Uganda intends to field junior men and senior men as well as women teams in the event. Uganda is currently ranked third over all in the world cross country running, behind Kenya and Ethiopia.
Moses Kipsiro won silver and bronze in the 2009 and 2010 editions, while the junior men’s team has won six bronze medals in their last seven appearances. The junior women team won a team bronze medal last year.
The teams
Senior women:
J. Achola, J. Chekwel,
V. Chemos, A. Negesa,
R. Cheptagei
Junior women:
N. Cheptagei, F. Chemutai,
S. Chesang, D. Sande
Senior men:
M. Kipsiro, S. Kiprotich,
D. Huru, G. Kusuro,
M. Kibet
Junior men: P. Kibet, J.
Araptany, D. Rotich, P.
Kipyego, T. Ayeko
CANADIAN Carl Keirstead has offered $5,000 (sh12m) to enable the national junior women team travel to Punta, Umbria, Spain for the World Cross Country championships due on Sunday.
The donation came after Keirstead, who has been sponsoring the annual Bukwo Road Run, learnt about the athletics federation’s lack of funds to fly a team to Spain. The junior women team won a bronze medal in Dubai last year. Federation treasurer Godfrey Nuwagaba confirmed Keirstead’s offer.
“He has already sent the money and it will cater for the air tickets for the junior women team. This is where his interest lies,†Nuwagaba explained.
But in order not to be caught off guard, the executive committee has decided to borrow money from friends so that the remaining three teams also travel.
“We are still waiting for a word from government but the money might come in late. We are moving in to borrow sh40m for the rest of the team,†added Nuwagaba.
On top of the junior women team, Uganda intends to field junior men and senior men as well as women teams in the event. Uganda is currently ranked third over all in the world cross country running, behind Kenya and Ethiopia.
Moses Kipsiro won silver and bronze in the 2009 and 2010 editions, while the junior men’s team has won six bronze medals in their last seven appearances. The junior women team won a team bronze medal last year.
The teams
Senior women:
J. Achola, J. Chekwel,
V. Chemos, A. Negesa,
R. Cheptagei
Junior women:
N. Cheptagei, F. Chemutai,
S. Chesang, D. Sande
Senior men:
M. Kipsiro, S. Kiprotich,
D. Huru, G. Kusuro,
M. Kibet
Junior men: P. Kibet, J.
Araptany, D. Rotich, P.
Kipyego, T. Ayeko