Kipsiro to miss Africa Championship

By Norman Katende

MOSES Kipsiro will for the first time in four years miss the Africa Cross Country championships set for  South Africa March 18.

Uganda Athletics Federation has left out the 2009 World Cross Country silver medalist from among the senior men’s team that will represent the country in Cape Town.

Like Stephen Kiprotich, Kipsiro was left out after he failed to participate in the national cross country contrary to UAF rules of selection for the international championship.

“We looked at the top performers and these are the names we have called. They are going to camp in Kween for more training as they prepare for the continental event,” explained Faustino Kiwa, the head of technical in the national athletics federation.

Benjamin Kiplagat was left out because he never finished among the top six leaving new youngsters to dominate the senior men team, ahead of the training in Kween district.

Although Juliet Chekwel did not finish the senior women National Cross Country competition, she has been included on the team.

She fell off the race 300m to the finish line after a shoulder to shoulder run with Annet Negesa for the first 6km.

Junior Women: Nancy Cheptegei, Stella Chesang, Patricia Chepkwemboi, Rachael Stella Chebet, Brenda Cherop and Doreen Sande.

Senior Women:  Annet Negesa, Viola Chemos, Rebecca Cheptegei, Stella Cheruto, Vanis Chemutai and Juliet Chekwel

Junior men: Alex Cherop Kapcheromit, Nathan Ayeko, Abdallah Mande, Moses Kurong, Michael Cherop and Wycliffe Kiplangat

Senior Men: Thomas Ayeko, Abraham Kiplimo, Timothy Toroitich, Jacob Araptany, Philip Kiplimo and Peter Kibet.