Lorone braces for Portugal race

Sep 30, 2003

JAFRED Lorone strongly believes his name is about to be inscribed in the annals of athletics greats.

By James Bakama

JAFRED Lorone strongly believes his name is about to be inscribed in the annals of athletics greats.

The seasoned athlete is confident he will be among the top finishers in the World half Marathon in Vilamoura, Portugal on Saturday.

Lorone told The New Vision that he was in the right state of mind and physical form to take on the long distance cream.

“I have never been in better form,” Lorone, 24, said after a mid-morning training session at Namboole yesterday.

His coach Mansoor Esmail is also optimistic.

“He is a fighter. But most important he is in superb shape. And what is encouraging is that he is psychologically tuned.”

Lorone, who has been under Mansoor’s tutelage with Julius Acon for a month, says the seasoned teacher has fine-tuned every aspect of his body in readiness for Saturday’s battle.

Mansoor, who handled Canadian boxing legend Willy Dewit, has also been training Abuja All Africa Games bound boxers Joseph Lubega and Martin Mubiru.

Lorone is no newcomer to top class road races. On October 24, 1999 he commanded the spotlight in the Chicago marathon as a pace setter for Khalid Kannouchi who went on to set a new world record.

His position at the front of the pack earned him a lucrative promotional deal with a US shoe company.

Uganda’s team at the Vilamoura race will also have Martin Toroitich, Wilson Kipkemei, Francis Yiga and Alex Malinga.

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