Toroitich gets last chance

Jul 23, 2009

THERE are no two ways about it. <br><br>Stephen Kiprotich and Martin Toroitich have to hit the World Championships qualifying mark in today’s 10000m final or they are off Uganda’s team.

By Norman Katende

THERE are no two ways about it.

Stephen Kiprotich and Martin Toroitich have to hit the World Championships qualifying mark in today’s 10000m final or they are off Uganda’s team.

The 10000 race will be among the highlights when the National Athletics Championship gets underway at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole.

The event is the last chance to hit the Berlin World championships qualifying mark for Kiprotich, Toroitich and any other athletes who are yet to make the set standards. The MTN sponsored event is due today and tomorrow at Namboole.

Boniface Kiprop has already qualified for the 10000m competition. He will team up with Kiprotich and Toroitich once they hit the tape within the qualifying mark of 27 minutes 47.00 seconds for direct entry to Uganda’s team list.

However, if they fail to qualify, it will be Uganda Athletics Federation to decide whether to field any of them depending on their times.

“We will consider their results at the national championships and if they fail to make it, the technical committee will meet and decide,” said UAF secretary Beatrice Ayikoru yesterday.

Toroitich ran a 27:57.11 last year, a time better than Kiprotich’s 28:00.89, and they are well aware that the better the times posted, the more their chances of representing the country.

There will also be finals in the 1500m, 400m, 100m both men and women and the 3000mSC women.

Meanwhile, the federation has marked the end of the track season by acquiring a larger office at Metropole House on Entebbe road in Kampala.

The new office has a more visible athletics touch in vertical blinds decorated with images of different national stars like the legendary John Akii Bua, Dorcus Inzikuru, Moses Kipsiro, Boniface Kiprop and Justine Bayigga among others, who have lifted Uganda’s flag at various international events.

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