Gombe boy sets Namboole mark

GOMBE’S Abraham Chepkirwok lit up the Akii Bua memorial meet after clocking 1 minute 45.0 seconds in the 800m event on Saturday.

By Norman Katende

Winners
Men

10000m: Kiprop 28:27.8
5000m: Kusuro 13:56.7
1500m: Kasagule 3:51.5
800m: Chepkirwok 1:45.0
400m: Okiror 47.8
200m S. Odwar 21.6
100m: Y. Kassango 10.4
3000mSC:Kimwogo 9:02.6
400mH: Lukungu 55.2
H/Jump: D. Okot 1.95m
Women
5000m: Chemechi 17:30.8
1500m: Toroitich 17:30.8
800m: Webombesa 2:15.6
400m: J. Ayo 59.21
200m: J. Bayiga 24.1
100m:J. Bayiga 11.6
L/Jump: M. Gamba 5.20
S/put: A. Kabasindi 10.57
Javelin: Kabasindi 48.2
Discuss: Kabasindi 35.62


GOMBE’S Abraham Chepkirwok lit up the Akii Bua memorial meet after clocking 1 minute 45.0 seconds in the 800m event on Saturday.

The 19-year-old star, who is making a comeback to athletics, registered the stadium best on a day when a number of others ran their season and personal best at Namboole stadium.

Chepkirwok beat race favourite Jimmy Adar (Aki Bua SS) by over three seconds to beat the World Junior championships qualifying mark of 1:51.00. The national 800m record is 1:44.55 set by Julius Acon in 1996.

The event was organised in memory of John Akii Bua, who set a World record of 47.82s over the 400m hurdles in the Olympic Games in Munich in 1972. But over three decades down, Waiswa Lukungu’s shot at matching it only ended at 55.2s.

More surprises were witnessed in the one-day event when Geoffrey Kusuro beat Kampala International University’s Simon Ayieko (14:08.1) to the 5000m crown while Stephen Odwar clocked 10.6 to beat Sam Mawanda (10.8) on the finishing line of the second heat, but Yossam Kassango’s winning time of 10.4 in heat four was the best time of the day.

The highlight of the day was in the 10000m when Isaac Kiprop, tired of being chased, decided to chase everyone on the track enroute to a victory and a standing ovation, overtaking all save for second placed Stephen Kiproitich (Sebei College).