Chepkirwok fails to complete race
Jun 09, 2015
National 800 meters record holder Abraham Chepkirwok made a painful comeback at the Akii-Bua Memorial Championships.
By James Bakama
World Championship
Athletes who have qualified
Marathon
Stephen Kiprotich
Solomon Mutai
Jackson Kiprop
Abraham Kiplimo
1500m
Ronald Musagala
10000m
Juliet Chekwel
Moses Kibet
Deadline: August 10
National 800 meters record holder Abraham Chepkirwok made a painful comeback at the Akii-Bua Memorial Championships.
Chepkirwok, who has been out of action for two seasons due to injury, pulled out at the 500m mark of the two-lap race at Namoole.
He had up to that point been leading heat two that was eventually won by Rwanda’s Geoffrey Rutto in one minute 47.72 seconds.
“I still have back pain,” explained Moses Kipsiro’s training partner as he bent, holding his back.
He has been nursing the injury since 2011 but is optimistic of being on course for full recovery.
“There was a time when I couldn’t even run for 200m. I will build on today’s distance at the next trial.”
His target is making it to the Rio 2016 Olympic team.
Worlds still elusive
Qualification for the Beijing World Championships meanwhile remained elusive though some athletes were within the All Africa Games standards.
Leni Shida’s time of 53.61 seconds was within the Congo Brazzaville requirement just like Lucy Aber’s javelin throw of 50.38 metres.
Dorcus Ajok’s 800m time of 2:03:25 was also within the Africa Games’ standard.
Banura, Ajok unrivalled
In the 400m hurdles, the event where the late John Akii-Bua set a world record as he won Uganda’s first Olympic gold medal at 1972 Munich games, times were slow.
What was however morale boosting was the fact that the competition this time had the women’s 400m hurdles.
Maureen Banura was the day’s best sprinter. The Gombe SS student strode to victory in the 100 and 200 metres before teaming up with Shida, Mildred Gamba and Scovia Ayikoru to cruise to victory in the 4x100m relays.
Ajok was equally unrivalled in the women’s middle distance easily winning the 800 and 1500m.
The Beijing qualification deadline is August 10, 12 days to the start of the championships.
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