By Norman Katende

MICHAEL Cherop believes that winning the ISU 10km road run will inspire him to make it to an international event, with the London 2012 Olympic Games being in his dream.

Cherop, fresh from representing Uganda in the Africa cross country championship in South Africa was the men’s 10km winner in the 13th ISU 10km road run on Sunday. Lillian Cheptegei won the women’s event.

“I am focusing on qualifying to one of the big events this year and this race will inspire me,” he said after the race in which he beat experienced Fred Arapsudi and Joseph Nsubuga

Cherop had the guts to push harder in the 10km race, ran under good weather conditions after an early morning drizzle that left the weather mild.

He shared the lead with Arapsudi and Nsubuga until the last 3km when they escaped from Nsubuga, to put up a shoulder to shoulder run with Cherop immerging top.

But in the last 500m, Cherop let his sprint do the talking, beating Arapsudi by over 20meters. Nsubuga then came in the third place.

“He was fit. He had speed and endurance,” Arapsudi commented when asked why he let Cherop beat him.

Cheptegei won the women 10km event while Annet Chebet beat Primo Twikirize in the women 5km race.

The race was sponsored by among others Stanbic Bank, MTN, Vision Group and AON.

ISU 10km run results

Men

1. Michael Cherop (Individual) 33:41.1

2. Fred Arapsudi  (Individual) 33:46.2

3. Joseph Nsubuga (UPDF) 35:31.00

Women

1. Lillian Cheptegei (UPDF) 40:20.5                        Regular runner Vision Group CEO Robert Kabushenga derived his             inspiration in the road run from music. He was among finishers of the race.