Kipsiro, Negesa favourites for National Cross Country Championships

By James Bakama and Norman Katende

Saturday

Jinja Golf Course

National Cross Country

AFTER an unimpressive outing at the London Olympics, today’s National Cross Country Championship in Jinja provides Moses Kipsiro with a golden opportunity to bounce back on the big stage.

Kipsiro together with other big guns take to the Jinja Golf Course well aware that a good performance this morning will earn them places in the World meet due in next month in Poland.

Last year’s winner Nathan Ayeko, Ben Siwa, Abraham Kiplimo, Alex Cherop, Martin Toroitich and Moses Aliwa are some of the stars that Kipsiro will be up against in the 12 kilometer race.

“He has been training hard. He is aware that it is time to make up for a fruitless Olympic season. So don’t be surprised if he wins today,” noted national long distance coach Nalis Bigingo.

Uganda Athletics Federation plans to enter a full team in the biennial world meet that will also serve as a build-up to the World Track and Field Championships later in the year.

In the women’s race Annet Negesa, just like Kipsiro, will also be out to prove a point. Shortly before the start of the London Olympics she pulled out due to injury.

But the Kampala International University student will have to be super fit as she will be in competition barely 48 hours after returning the East  Africa University Games in Dar es Salaam.

Juliet Chekwel , Rebecca Cheptegei and Catherine Webombesa,  Dorcus Inzikuru and  Viola Chemos are some of the other big names that will be racing for honours in the women’s 8km event.

World mountain running junior champion Michael Cherop will be the person to beat in the 8km junior boys race. Alex Cherop, Peter Akwech  and Abdallah Mande are the other stars vying for a podium finish.

In the junior girls 6km race Nancy Cheptegei is seen as the favourite. Patricia Chepkwemoi, Sylvia Chelangat, and Stella Chesang are the other contenders for the top places.

National coach Benjamin Longiross, said the runners have dedicated considerable amount of time in training and expects decent results from them. 

“It is time for them to show what they are capable of doing,” Longiross remarked after a routine trip to one of the high altitude training camps.