Can Inzikuru repeat Kamoga’s feat?
Aug 05, 2005
UGANDA’S World Athletics Championship tale has been more about fulfilling the sports ideal of participation than winning medals.
By James Bakama
UGANDA’S World Athletics Championship tale has been more about fulfilling the sports ideal of participation than winning medals.
Davis Kamoga’s 400m silver at the 1997 Athens edition, is all Uganda can show from nine appearances in athletics’ premier competition that returns to its inaugural venue this weekend.
When Boniface Kiprop, Alex Malinga, Wilson Busienei, Moses Kipsiro, Pascar Owor and Dorcas Inzikuru start their medal hunt in Helsinki, little will they know of a similar Ugandan campaign in 1983.
Quarter milers Mike Okot and Moses Kyeswa together with hurdlers Peter Rwamuhanda and Ruth Kyalisima were Uganda’s ambassadors in Helsinki that time.
A medal proved merely a dream, but Kyeswa still gave his country something to smile about by finishing seventh in the semifinals.
Rome ‘87 had Uganda represented by Moses Musonge, Joseph Ssali, Sunday Olweny and Edward Bitoga in the 4x100.
The quartet could only make sixth position (40.2 sec) in the heats of this edition best remembered for Ben Johnson’s world record dash and Jackie Joyyner Kersee’s double gold in heptathlon and long jump.
Tokyo ‘91 had Joel Otim holding Uganda’s mantle at a championship that reverberated with Mike Powell’s long jump world record.
Otim couldn’t make it past the preliminaries in both 100 and 400m.
Teenager Francis Ogola had something better to offer at Stuttgart ‘93. Competing with big names like Butch Reynolds and Quincy Watts, Ogola’s sprint was only halted by a quarterfinal disqualification for a foot on the line.
Ogola strode to the quarterfinals at the next competition in Gothenburg in a 45.70 personal best. But it was new talent Kamoga in the spotlight.
Kamoga became the first Ugandan to qualify for the final before a swollen cheek had him finishing last in a race won by US superstar Michael Johnson.
Athens Olympiako stadio was on a warm August afternoon to provide the perfect setting for Kamoga’s historic run.
He was close on Johnson’s heels rewriting Uganda’s 400m record to 44.37 with a silver medal.
That’s Uganda’s best achievement in the now biennial competition where other runners like Julius Acon, Grace Birungi, Boniface Kiprop and Inzikuru are yet to emulate Kamoga in subsequent competitions.
On form Inzikuru currently has the world’s fastest time in the recently introduced women’s steeplechase.
But whether she can emulate Kamoga will be judged on Saturday when she trots to the starting line in the heats.
Inzikuru though will not be Uganda’s only medal hope.
Boniface Kiprop, racing in both the 5000 and 10000m events could give Ugandans a cause to smile too.
UGANDA’S World Athletics Championship tale has been more about fulfilling the sports ideal of participation than winning medals.
Davis Kamoga’s 400m silver at the 1997 Athens edition, is all Uganda can show from nine appearances in athletics’ premier competition that returns to its inaugural venue this weekend.
When Boniface Kiprop, Alex Malinga, Wilson Busienei, Moses Kipsiro, Pascar Owor and Dorcas Inzikuru start their medal hunt in Helsinki, little will they know of a similar Ugandan campaign in 1983.
Quarter milers Mike Okot and Moses Kyeswa together with hurdlers Peter Rwamuhanda and Ruth Kyalisima were Uganda’s ambassadors in Helsinki that time.
A medal proved merely a dream, but Kyeswa still gave his country something to smile about by finishing seventh in the semifinals.
Rome ‘87 had Uganda represented by Moses Musonge, Joseph Ssali, Sunday Olweny and Edward Bitoga in the 4x100.
The quartet could only make sixth position (40.2 sec) in the heats of this edition best remembered for Ben Johnson’s world record dash and Jackie Joyyner Kersee’s double gold in heptathlon and long jump.
Tokyo ‘91 had Joel Otim holding Uganda’s mantle at a championship that reverberated with Mike Powell’s long jump world record.
Otim couldn’t make it past the preliminaries in both 100 and 400m.
Teenager Francis Ogola had something better to offer at Stuttgart ‘93. Competing with big names like Butch Reynolds and Quincy Watts, Ogola’s sprint was only halted by a quarterfinal disqualification for a foot on the line.
Ogola strode to the quarterfinals at the next competition in Gothenburg in a 45.70 personal best. But it was new talent Kamoga in the spotlight.
Kamoga became the first Ugandan to qualify for the final before a swollen cheek had him finishing last in a race won by US superstar Michael Johnson.
Athens Olympiako stadio was on a warm August afternoon to provide the perfect setting for Kamoga’s historic run.
He was close on Johnson’s heels rewriting Uganda’s 400m record to 44.37 with a silver medal.
That’s Uganda’s best achievement in the now biennial competition where other runners like Julius Acon, Grace Birungi, Boniface Kiprop and Inzikuru are yet to emulate Kamoga in subsequent competitions.
On form Inzikuru currently has the world’s fastest time in the recently introduced women’s steeplechase.
But whether she can emulate Kamoga will be judged on Saturday when she trots to the starting line in the heats.
Inzikuru though will not be Uganda’s only medal hope.
Boniface Kiprop, racing in both the 5000 and 10000m events could give Ugandans a cause to smile too.