Bayigga keeps hope to qualify for London Olympics

By Norman Katende

JUSTINE Bayigga made an early statement against her sprint rivals Mildred Gamba and Emily Nanziri when she beat them to the 200m in the second national track and field athletics trial at Namboole on Saturday.

Bayigga, who had prior kept away from  the trials, arguing that she was not ready,  broke away from the chasing pack  at Namboole on Saturday to come home  in a time of 24 .36 seconds, beating Gamba (24.36) and Nanziri (25.02) in the same heat.  Bayigga won her heat.

The athletes are fighting to qualify for the London 2012 Olympics Games in London, Africa Senior Athletics Champions in Benin and World Junior championships in Barcelona all in July.

This was the only heat that the top sprinters ran together. In the 400m, Nanziri managed to post the best time of 55.36 seconds after she beat Gamba to the tape.

“I have not yet done my speed work but I was relaxed that is how I managed to post the best time,” said Nanziri after the race.

However, the managers complained that the top athletes need to be seeded in the same heats to ensure that there is an improvement in the performance, as they fight to qualify for the different international meets.

Halimah Nakayi sprinted from about 8m behind to beat Agnes Aneno to the finishing line.