Kiprop the best at Garuga event
Feb 09, 2003
BONIFACE Kiprop will have cross borders if he is to get any meaningful competition.
By James Bakama
BONIFACE Kiprop will have cross borders if he is to get any meaningful competition.
The Standard High School student, who has not lost a local race in two years, easily trod to his third National Cross-country title on Saturday.
“I will have to go to Kenya for serious competition,†said a composed Kiprop after winning the junior men’s eight-kilometer race at the Garuga Golf course by an 80-meter gap.
But his efforts were not enough to hand his team the overall title that Arua retained for the fourth time.
Kiprop, 18, whose talent recently earned him a lucrative deal with kit dealers Puma, clocked 27 minutes 25.5 seconds on a course described as “tough†by athletes.
The triple world cross-country bronze medallist showed he was a class apart right from flag-off on the lakeside course.
His superior form was shown 50 meters from flag-off as he surged into the lead with teammate Simon Ayieko on a sharp hill. By the fourth kilometer he was all alone, a lead he maintained to the end.
“I could easily go for another four kilometres,†said the senior three student, who chose not to run in the senior race because the junior event was faster.
Alex Malinga was in the senior men’s 12 km race denied a record fourth title by Tony Okello.
The Nkumba University student tactfully kept his teammate within arms distance. With 200m left Okello sprinted past Malinga to the tape in 42:38.3.
The women’s version of the short race was won by Buddo’s Magret Nakintu.
BONIFACE Kiprop will have cross borders if he is to get any meaningful competition.
The Standard High School student, who has not lost a local race in two years, easily trod to his third National Cross-country title on Saturday.
“I will have to go to Kenya for serious competition,†said a composed Kiprop after winning the junior men’s eight-kilometer race at the Garuga Golf course by an 80-meter gap.
But his efforts were not enough to hand his team the overall title that Arua retained for the fourth time.
Kiprop, 18, whose talent recently earned him a lucrative deal with kit dealers Puma, clocked 27 minutes 25.5 seconds on a course described as “tough†by athletes.
The triple world cross-country bronze medallist showed he was a class apart right from flag-off on the lakeside course.
His superior form was shown 50 meters from flag-off as he surged into the lead with teammate Simon Ayieko on a sharp hill. By the fourth kilometer he was all alone, a lead he maintained to the end.
“I could easily go for another four kilometres,†said the senior three student, who chose not to run in the senior race because the junior event was faster.
Alex Malinga was in the senior men’s 12 km race denied a record fourth title by Tony Okello.
The Nkumba University student tactfully kept his teammate within arms distance. With 200m left Okello sprinted past Malinga to the tape in 42:38.3.
The women’s version of the short race was won by Buddo’s Magret Nakintu.