JUSTINE Bayigga will be targeting the Beijing Olympic Games qualifying mark at the Pan Africa meet at Namboole today afternoon. At the same meet, former world 3000m steeplechase champion Dorcus Inzikuru will also go all out and try to run below 15 minutes over the 5000m distance, as she gauges her speed, before resuming her favourite steeplechase competition.
Bayigga, who has twice run below 53 seconds will be aiming to run below 52 and 23 seconds mark in the 400 and 200m, if she is to make it to the Beijing Summer Olympic Games list in the two races.
With an entry of Nigerian Omalara Omoloye, Sudanese Fayzal Omer, Kenyans Damaris Mbula and Suzan Nyarumbu, and also facing the home competition of training partner Emily Nanziri, Bayigga faces a race of her time. She has never qualified for the Olympic Games.
Stephen Odwar and Waisswa Lukungu will also feel the challenge of Kenya’s Wellington Nyakundi, Sudanese Nadir Abdelraman and Libya's Mohammed Musbah in the men's 400m event.
Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania and Libya have all entered athletes to the international permit meet, which has cash prizes on offer for the winners.
The meet, will follow the 10th edition of the Akii Bua memorial, which will be hosted at the same venue in the morning. The meet is organised in memory of John Akii Bua, Uganda’s first Olympic medallist in 400mH in Munich ‘72.
Top athletes eye Olympic qualifying marks at Pan Africa meet
