Inzikuru plots steeplechase world record in Kenya
Doha, Qatar IAAF S-Grand Prix 9:28:50(African record)<br>DORCUS Inzikuru heads to the Kenyan highlands of Iten today as she intensifies training that should make her a medal prospect at August’s World Championships in Finland.
By Paul Mbuga and Norman Katende
Personal bests since 1999
5000m
- July 1999 - 16:05:50
- October 2000 - 16:21:32
World junior track gold medal
- July 2002 - 15:21:30
- July 2002 - 15:18:0
Commonwealth Games
- July 2004 - 15:05:30
3000m flat
- 1999 - 9:05:02
World Youth Games
- 2002 - 8:48:81
- 2003 - 8:46:29
3000m steeplechase
- June 2003 -10:07:28
- August 2003 -9:39:51
- July 2004 -9:29:30
- May 2005 - 9:28.50
Doha, Qatar IAAF S-Grand Prix 9:28:50(African record)
DORCUS Inzikuru heads to the Kenyan highlands of Iten today as she intensifies training that should make her a medal prospect at August’s World Championships in Finland.
The Ugandan long distance ace is fresh from Doha, Qatar, where she set a new African record in the 3000m steeplechase at an IAAF Grand Prix race on Friday. The mark is 20 seconds behind the world record of 9:01.59 held by Russia’s Gulnara Samitova.
She will be in Kenya with her coach Renato Canova, who is also Qatar’s head coach.
“She is now getting to her climax. It’s encouraging since it is her first track race this season. We hope that she will be able to set a new best,†UAF’s Beatrice Ayikoru said after Inzikuru broke the record.
Cristina Casandra of Romania however retained the number one spot in the world rankings with 1246 points. Inzikuru got 1290 points with her win, but as this was only her third competition in the past 365 days, Inzikuru is not yet eligible for the rankings.
“She still has a chance to make it to the rankings. She has a number of races scheduled for her before the world championships,†said Ayikoru. She needs six races.
The gazelle from Arua seems to have finally identified her perfect race to dominate the world.
Inzikuru’s career has grown slowly but steadily since her debut at a national track and field championship at Barifa Stadium, Arua in 1995.
Then came that enchanted night in Santiago, Chile in October 2000. Inzikuru ran with sublime spirit, including an incredible kick in the final stretch, to win a gold medal.
The result surprised even her manager Dr. Flavio Pasqualato. His explanation was that Inzikuru took advantage of her finishing to win a very slow tactical race, and said the result put her in bigger shoes than she expected early in her career.
This, Pasqualato explained, was the reason why her fans had thought she should have already been top of the world. The steeplechase, might provide this dream soon.
The 24-year-old intends to run for her club at the Italian Championship in Milan on May 28-29 and the Milan IAAF Grand Prix on June 1.
Inzikuru will then run in Paris on July 1 then head to the World Athletics Championships in Finland, where she should lay an even larger claim to greatness.
Personal bests since 1999
5000m
- July 1999 - 16:05:50
- October 2000 - 16:21:32
World junior track gold medal
- July 2002 - 15:21:30
- July 2002 - 15:18:0
Commonwealth Games
- July 2004 - 15:05:30
3000m flat
- 1999 - 9:05:02
World Youth Games
- 2002 - 8:48:81
- 2003 - 8:46:29
3000m steeplechase
- June 2003 -10:07:28
- August 2003 -9:39:51
- July 2004 -9:29:30
- May 2005 - 9:28.50
Doha, Qatar IAAF S-Grand Prix 9:28:50(African record)
DORCUS Inzikuru heads to the Kenyan highlands of Iten today as she intensifies training that should make her a medal prospect at August’s World Championships in Finland.
The Ugandan long distance ace is fresh from Doha, Qatar, where she set a new African record in the 3000m steeplechase at an IAAF Grand Prix race on Friday. The mark is 20 seconds behind the world record of 9:01.59 held by Russia’s Gulnara Samitova.
She will be in Kenya with her coach Renato Canova, who is also Qatar’s head coach.
“She is now getting to her climax. It’s encouraging since it is her first track race this season. We hope that she will be able to set a new best,†UAF’s Beatrice Ayikoru said after Inzikuru broke the record.
Cristina Casandra of Romania however retained the number one spot in the world rankings with 1246 points. Inzikuru got 1290 points with her win, but as this was only her third competition in the past 365 days, Inzikuru is not yet eligible for the rankings.
“She still has a chance to make it to the rankings. She has a number of races scheduled for her before the world championships,†said Ayikoru. She needs six races.
The gazelle from Arua seems to have finally identified her perfect race to dominate the world.
Inzikuru’s career has grown slowly but steadily since her debut at a national track and field championship at Barifa Stadium, Arua in 1995.
Then came that enchanted night in Santiago, Chile in October 2000. Inzikuru ran with sublime spirit, including an incredible kick in the final stretch, to win a gold medal.
The result surprised even her manager Dr. Flavio Pasqualato. His explanation was that Inzikuru took advantage of her finishing to win a very slow tactical race, and said the result put her in bigger shoes than she expected early in her career.
This, Pasqualato explained, was the reason why her fans had thought she should have already been top of the world. The steeplechase, might provide this dream soon.
The 24-year-old intends to run for her club at the Italian Championship in Milan on May 28-29 and the Milan IAAF Grand Prix on June 1.
Inzikuru will then run in Paris on July 1 then head to the World Athletics Championships in Finland, where she should lay an even larger claim to greatness.