Sprinter Bayiga guns for 28th title
Jul 07, 2007
LEADING local female sprinter Justine Bayiga will be gunning for a record 28th national title. The MTN-sponsored athletics championship draws the curtain to the local track and field calendar. All top performers will walk away with cash prizes. Arua are defending champions.
By Norman Katende
ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIP
LEADING local female sprinter Justine Bayiga will be gunning for a record 28th national title. The MTN-sponsored athletics championship draws the curtain to the local track and field calendar. All top performers will walk away with cash prizes. Arua are defending champions.
The KIU student, who has had an excellent performance in both the 200m and 400m this season, first became a national champion in 1996 at the age of 17 after she won both the 100m and 200m.
She has since gone on to win titles in more events that include 400m, 100mH, 400mH, long jump and triple jump; becoming the only Ugandan to achieve national titles in more than three events.
“I will compete in the 200m and 400m races. There are no electronic timers to qualify me for the World championships, but will have to run a good time as I prepare for the All Africa Games,†she said after Thursday’s training.
The sprint heats and semi-finals will be held today and the finals on Sunday.
Martin Toroitich, yet to win a national title, will be up against Isaac Kiprop and Geoffrey Kusuro in the men’s 10,000m event.
Meanwhile, James Bakama adds that the first group of Uganda’s contingent for the ninth All Africa Games has settled in the sports village in Algiers.
Chief de mission Nicholas P’minga called Kampala yesterday saying the team had a tiring 11½ hour stop over at Rome’s Leornado da Vinci airport. He however added that they finally flew into Algiers on Friday.
“They are staying in block J, which they prefers to call Uganda House,†said UOC treasurer Salim Musoke.
Table tennis players Ronald Nyaika, Kevin Mafabi and their coach Peter Mugisha were shifted to a venue 20 miles away.
The trio will be joined on Monday by the only girl on the team Eva Nabulondera.
The first group had cyclists, badminton, weightlifting, tae-kwon-do and wrestlers. The second that departs today has veteran table tennis player Paul Mutambuze, tennis- G. Uzunga, J. Kasule (official), swimming- G. Kaburu, w/lifting- M. Kivumbi, I. Katamba, boxing- R. Serugo, fly-P. Adyak, feather- I. Miwendo, light-S. Bogere, l/welter- F. Muhumuza, R. Ddungu (manager) K. Musa (coach).
Third group that has track athletes departs Saturday.
ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIP
LEADING local female sprinter Justine Bayiga will be gunning for a record 28th national title. The MTN-sponsored athletics championship draws the curtain to the local track and field calendar. All top performers will walk away with cash prizes. Arua are defending champions.
The KIU student, who has had an excellent performance in both the 200m and 400m this season, first became a national champion in 1996 at the age of 17 after she won both the 100m and 200m.
She has since gone on to win titles in more events that include 400m, 100mH, 400mH, long jump and triple jump; becoming the only Ugandan to achieve national titles in more than three events.
“I will compete in the 200m and 400m races. There are no electronic timers to qualify me for the World championships, but will have to run a good time as I prepare for the All Africa Games,†she said after Thursday’s training.
The sprint heats and semi-finals will be held today and the finals on Sunday.
Martin Toroitich, yet to win a national title, will be up against Isaac Kiprop and Geoffrey Kusuro in the men’s 10,000m event.
Meanwhile, James Bakama adds that the first group of Uganda’s contingent for the ninth All Africa Games has settled in the sports village in Algiers.
Chief de mission Nicholas P’minga called Kampala yesterday saying the team had a tiring 11½ hour stop over at Rome’s Leornado da Vinci airport. He however added that they finally flew into Algiers on Friday.
“They are staying in block J, which they prefers to call Uganda House,†said UOC treasurer Salim Musoke.
Table tennis players Ronald Nyaika, Kevin Mafabi and their coach Peter Mugisha were shifted to a venue 20 miles away.
The trio will be joined on Monday by the only girl on the team Eva Nabulondera.
The first group had cyclists, badminton, weightlifting, tae-kwon-do and wrestlers. The second that departs today has veteran table tennis player Paul Mutambuze, tennis- G. Uzunga, J. Kasule (official), swimming- G. Kaburu, w/lifting- M. Kivumbi, I. Katamba, boxing- R. Serugo, fly-P. Adyak, feather- I. Miwendo, light-S. Bogere, l/welter- F. Muhumuza, R. Ddungu (manager) K. Musa (coach).
Third group that has track athletes departs Saturday.