Kipsiro will lead Uganda’s chase
Mar 28, 2009
AFTER being crowned 2008 Athelte of the Year, Moses Kipsiro hinted that his vision this year was finishing on the podium regularly. His dream could be realised today when he competes at the World Cross Country senior men’s race at the Bisharat Golf Cour
By Norman Katende
Today, Live on UBC
World Cross Country
Junior men’s race 8km, 5pm
Senior men 12km 6.30pm
AFTER being crowned 2008 Athelte of the Year, Moses Kipsiro hinted that his vision this year was finishing on the podium regularly. His dream could be realised today when he competes at the World Cross Country senior men’s race at the Bisharat Golf Course.
Despite the sh60m up for grabs for the individual winner, Kipsiro will be seeking his maiden podium world cross country achievement, which has eluded him for the last six years.
It’s this that forced him to put off most of the international races and concentrate on training with the national team in Kapchorwa.
“They are all good athletes. I have run against them so many times but we will go on as a team,†he said, downplaying the absence of Kenenisa Bekele and Tariku Bekele.
He now has Ethiopian Gebre-Egzhiaber Gebremariam and Kenyan Leonard Komon, silver medalist last year and Moses Mosop as his main threats.
Kipsiro’s confidence comes from the fact that he has ever beaten all of them in the European permit meets.
Geoffrey Kusuro, Ben Siwa and Stephen Kiprotich, Nicholas Kiprono and James Kibet are Uganda’s other participants in the senior race.
The top four finishers score points for each country. The last time they won a team medal was a bronze in Mombasa 2007.
Moses Kibet will likely lead Uganda’s junior men’s team to another podium finish, at the World cross country championship today, aware that his performance will determine the athlete’s future.
Last year’s 10000m Youth Games’ gold medalist will combine with Dickson Huru, silver medalist at the same event, Timothy Toroitich, Bernard Cheptoch and Ronald Kiprotich as the newly tailored but confident set of youngsters seek to emulate the past performance.
The junior team has been Uganda’s most successful at the world event, winning six team bronze medals in the past nine years.
“What we want is for them to support each other in the race. With that, we can be able to achieve something as a team,†national coach Nalis Bigingo stated yesterday.
The team returns to the country next week.
Today, Live on UBC
World Cross Country
Junior men’s race 8km, 5pm
Senior men 12km 6.30pm
AFTER being crowned 2008 Athelte of the Year, Moses Kipsiro hinted that his vision this year was finishing on the podium regularly. His dream could be realised today when he competes at the World Cross Country senior men’s race at the Bisharat Golf Course.
Despite the sh60m up for grabs for the individual winner, Kipsiro will be seeking his maiden podium world cross country achievement, which has eluded him for the last six years.
It’s this that forced him to put off most of the international races and concentrate on training with the national team in Kapchorwa.
“They are all good athletes. I have run against them so many times but we will go on as a team,†he said, downplaying the absence of Kenenisa Bekele and Tariku Bekele.
He now has Ethiopian Gebre-Egzhiaber Gebremariam and Kenyan Leonard Komon, silver medalist last year and Moses Mosop as his main threats.
Kipsiro’s confidence comes from the fact that he has ever beaten all of them in the European permit meets.
Geoffrey Kusuro, Ben Siwa and Stephen Kiprotich, Nicholas Kiprono and James Kibet are Uganda’s other participants in the senior race.
The top four finishers score points for each country. The last time they won a team medal was a bronze in Mombasa 2007.
Moses Kibet will likely lead Uganda’s junior men’s team to another podium finish, at the World cross country championship today, aware that his performance will determine the athlete’s future.
Last year’s 10000m Youth Games’ gold medalist will combine with Dickson Huru, silver medalist at the same event, Timothy Toroitich, Bernard Cheptoch and Ronald Kiprotich as the newly tailored but confident set of youngsters seek to emulate the past performance.
The junior team has been Uganda’s most successful at the world event, winning six team bronze medals in the past nine years.
“What we want is for them to support each other in the race. With that, we can be able to achieve something as a team,†national coach Nalis Bigingo stated yesterday.
The team returns to the country next week.