uganda 5th
Apr 02, 2006
WILSON Busienei spurred Uganda to a fifth position finish at yesterday’s IAAF World Cross Country Championships 12km long race in Fukuoka, Japan. This was just a day after he finished 17th in the 4km race of the same event.
By Norman Katende
Long race 12km
1. K. Bekele (ETH) 35:40
2. S. Sihine (ETH) 35:43
21. W. Busienei (UGA) 36:42
22. B. Kiprop (UGA) 36:45
23. M. Kipsiro (UGA) 36:52
36. I. Kiprop (UGA) 37:21
34. M. Aliwa (UGA) 37:35
46. S. Kosgei (UGA) 37:37
Team finish
1. Kenya 24
2. Eritrea 28
3. Ethiopia 42
4. Morocco 62
5. Uganda 102
Junior race 8km
Individual
1. N. Kimai (KEN) 23:53
2. P. Komon (KEN) 23:54
15. G. Kusuro (UGA) 24:30
21. F. Arapsudi (UGA) 24:51
25. N. Kwemoi (UGA) 24:55
26. S. Kiprotich (UGA) 25:02
Teams
1. Kenya 16
2. Ethiopia 24
3. Eritrea 45
4. Uganda 87
WILSON Busienei spurred Uganda to a fifth position finish at yesterday’s IAAF World Cross Country Championships 12km long race in Fukuoka, Japan. This was just a day after he finished 17th in the 4km race of the same event.
Busienei clocked 36 minutes 42 seconds to become Uganda’s best finisher at the 21st position of the 12km race, which was won by Ethiopian Kenenisa Bekele, who claimed his fifth double after winning Saturday’s short race.
Busienei was followed by Boniface Kiprop (22), Moses Kipsiro (23), Isaac Kiprop (36), Moses Aliwa (44) and Samuel Kosgei (46), who helped Uganda finish fifth over all and earn a cash prize of sh14.7m for their efforts. The team position was better than last year when they were placed sixth.
Unlike past cross country outings, Uganda ran as a team until the fifth of the six-lap race when Isaac Kiprop could not match the pace, falling from the group as the trio made a 21-22-23 position finish.
“It’s good we have started running as a team. This encourages other athletes to improve their performance and also builds the team spirit. In the nearby future, the entire country will benefit,†explained UAF secretary Beatrice Ayikoru of the new format.
The junior team improved their performance from last year’s seventh position to fourth, after being heralded by Geoffrey Kusuro (15) and Fred Arapsudi (21).
The 23-year-old Bekele, twice IAAF athlete of the year, became the first man to win both the 4km and 12km titles five years in a row. Bekele is also the Olympic and world 10000m champion.
Fellow Ethiopian Sileshi Sihine took silver in 35:43 with Kenya’s Marti Mathathi third in 35:44.
Mombasa will host the next event next year but without the short race.
Last year's junior champion Gelete Burika Bati of Ethiopia won the women’s 4km title in a time of 12:51. Kenya’s Priscah Jepleting Ngetich was second in 12:53 and Ethiopia’s Meselech Melkamu third in 12:54.
Ends
Long race 12km
1. K. Bekele (ETH) 35:40
2. S. Sihine (ETH) 35:43
21. W. Busienei (UGA) 36:42
22. B. Kiprop (UGA) 36:45
23. M. Kipsiro (UGA) 36:52
36. I. Kiprop (UGA) 37:21
34. M. Aliwa (UGA) 37:35
46. S. Kosgei (UGA) 37:37
Team finish
1. Kenya 24
2. Eritrea 28
3. Ethiopia 42
4. Morocco 62
5. Uganda 102
Junior race 8km
Individual
1. N. Kimai (KEN) 23:53
2. P. Komon (KEN) 23:54
15. G. Kusuro (UGA) 24:30
21. F. Arapsudi (UGA) 24:51
25. N. Kwemoi (UGA) 24:55
26. S. Kiprotich (UGA) 25:02
Teams
1. Kenya 16
2. Ethiopia 24
3. Eritrea 45
4. Uganda 87
WILSON Busienei spurred Uganda to a fifth position finish at yesterday’s IAAF World Cross Country Championships 12km long race in Fukuoka, Japan. This was just a day after he finished 17th in the 4km race of the same event.
Busienei clocked 36 minutes 42 seconds to become Uganda’s best finisher at the 21st position of the 12km race, which was won by Ethiopian Kenenisa Bekele, who claimed his fifth double after winning Saturday’s short race.
Busienei was followed by Boniface Kiprop (22), Moses Kipsiro (23), Isaac Kiprop (36), Moses Aliwa (44) and Samuel Kosgei (46), who helped Uganda finish fifth over all and earn a cash prize of sh14.7m for their efforts. The team position was better than last year when they were placed sixth.
Unlike past cross country outings, Uganda ran as a team until the fifth of the six-lap race when Isaac Kiprop could not match the pace, falling from the group as the trio made a 21-22-23 position finish.
“It’s good we have started running as a team. This encourages other athletes to improve their performance and also builds the team spirit. In the nearby future, the entire country will benefit,†explained UAF secretary Beatrice Ayikoru of the new format.
The junior team improved their performance from last year’s seventh position to fourth, after being heralded by Geoffrey Kusuro (15) and Fred Arapsudi (21).
The 23-year-old Bekele, twice IAAF athlete of the year, became the first man to win both the 4km and 12km titles five years in a row. Bekele is also the Olympic and world 10000m champion.
Fellow Ethiopian Sileshi Sihine took silver in 35:43 with Kenya’s Marti Mathathi third in 35:44.
Mombasa will host the next event next year but without the short race.
Last year's junior champion Gelete Burika Bati of Ethiopia won the women’s 4km title in a time of 12:51. Kenya’s Priscah Jepleting Ngetich was second in 12:53 and Ethiopia’s Meselech Melkamu third in 12:54.
Ends