Athletes make final touches for Moscow

By James Bakama

World Championship

August 10-18

COACH Benjamin Longiros is concentrating on strategy in the final week to the World Athletics Championships.

“We are done with the physical bit and are now concentrating on how to excel in the competition proper,” explained Longiros.

The final touches have had Longiros engaging the athletes in mental sessions on what it takes to win. Kampala University student Ronald Musagala, who was the last person to qualify for the biennial meet, will be the first Ugandan out of the blocks.

This will be in the 800 meter heats on Sunday morning. The first batch of the team comprising of Musagala (800m), Moses Kipsiro (5000m/10000), Timothy Toroitich (steeplechase/10000m), Timothy Ayeko (10000), Jacob Araptany (steeplechase), Juliet Chekwel (10000), Phillip Kipyego (5000m) and Longiros leaves tomorrow.

National Council of Sports chairman Bosco Onyik will tomorrow hand over a flag to the Russia bound team at Lugogo.

Save for Musagala, who has been training at Namboole and US based triple jumper Nambawa, the rest of the team has been fine tuning in the Elgon and Kenya highlands.

The team will link up with Uganda Athletics Federation president Domenic Otuchet in Moscow. Otuchet left yesterday to attend IAAF and Africa Athletics Confederation congresses that precede the athletics meet.

Nambawa will join the team on Sunday from her base in Nashville, Tennessee. The marathon trio of Stephen Kiprotich, Jackson Kiprop and Abraham departs next week on Wednesday.

The trio wants to make the best of high altitude training in Eldoret, Kenya.