Uganda in athletic trials, eye Commonwealth
Jul 19, 2008
FARIDAH Chelangat will be among the key athletes that the Uganda Athletics Federation (UAF) technical committee will closely monitor during the Western Regional athletics championships in Kabale today.
By Norman Katende
FARIDAH Chelangat will be among the key athletes that the Uganda Athletics Federation (UAF) technical committee will closely monitor during the Western Regional athletics championships in Kabale today.
The MTN-sponsored championships are the last trial event on the UAF calendar.
Chelangat, who has been a consistency performer down the years, is among the youth expected to register decent qualifying times for the Commonwealth Youth games due in Puni, India in October.
“With the Olympic qualifying schedule more than over, we are looking at those promising youths in the long distances to see whether they can make the mark.
The sprinters can only qualify with electronic timers. This is the start of building more senior athletes in the future,†federation secretary Beatrice Ayikoru divulged yesterday.
The last championships that were held in Kabale in 2005 produced an unknown star in Ivan Muhwezi, who later on represented Uganda in the World Cross country championships in Brussels. Top performers will walk away with cash prizes courtesy of MTN.
This weekend’s event will pave way for the national championships that are due next weekend at Namboole.
The championship will be a dress rehearsal for all the stars that are preparing to travel to Beijing for the Olympic Games, with the exception of marathon athlete Alex Malinga.
“We are going to talk to all their managers to see that all the athletes that are in the country to compete in the event.
"It gives the local athletes inspiration and also motivates them. Some of the Ugandans do not know these athletes,†Ayikoru added.
3000m steeple chase star Benjamin
Kiplagat, 5000m runner Geoffrey Kusuro and 400m Justine Bayigga are expected for the event.
“We do not expect them to break records but to compete.â€
The championships will not have an electronic timer, since its very expensive to hire.
FARIDAH Chelangat will be among the key athletes that the Uganda Athletics Federation (UAF) technical committee will closely monitor during the Western Regional athletics championships in Kabale today.
The MTN-sponsored championships are the last trial event on the UAF calendar.
Chelangat, who has been a consistency performer down the years, is among the youth expected to register decent qualifying times for the Commonwealth Youth games due in Puni, India in October.
“With the Olympic qualifying schedule more than over, we are looking at those promising youths in the long distances to see whether they can make the mark.
The sprinters can only qualify with electronic timers. This is the start of building more senior athletes in the future,†federation secretary Beatrice Ayikoru divulged yesterday.
The last championships that were held in Kabale in 2005 produced an unknown star in Ivan Muhwezi, who later on represented Uganda in the World Cross country championships in Brussels. Top performers will walk away with cash prizes courtesy of MTN.
This weekend’s event will pave way for the national championships that are due next weekend at Namboole.
The championship will be a dress rehearsal for all the stars that are preparing to travel to Beijing for the Olympic Games, with the exception of marathon athlete Alex Malinga.
“We are going to talk to all their managers to see that all the athletes that are in the country to compete in the event.
"It gives the local athletes inspiration and also motivates them. Some of the Ugandans do not know these athletes,†Ayikoru added.
3000m steeple chase star Benjamin
Kiplagat, 5000m runner Geoffrey Kusuro and 400m Justine Bayigga are expected for the event.
“We do not expect them to break records but to compete.â€
The championships will not have an electronic timer, since its very expensive to hire.