Leni and Lalam break records
Jun 23, 2019
Leni clocked 51.55 seconds at the UAF Central Region at Namboole on Saturday.
National records broken
400m S. Leni 51.55 secs
Javelin J. Lalam 55.59m
Shida Leni finally hit the Doha World Championships qualification mark and immediately promised to lower her national record even further.
The Police Athletics Club runner clocked 51.55 seconds at the UAF Central Region at Namboole on Saturday.
Her performance on a cool morning was well into the 51.80 Doha requirement and also inside her previous national record.
"With just three competitions left on the calendar, I was under pressure to qualify and therefore had to give my best," said Leni after the 400-meter race.
There was even more to motivate Leni, who in the previous meet at the same venue hit the Doha mark but was let down by a dysfunctional timer.
It was also a record sixth time that Leni was breaking the national record. " I know I can run even faster. All I need is to increase training."
Leni, a Bugema University Masters Degree student, will next month have an opportunity of running faster at the World University Games in Naples, Italy.
It was also a great day javelin thrower Josephine Lalam who broke Lucy Aber's national record with a 55.59-meter throw.
"It came as no surprise. I had this feeling the entire week that I was going to break a record," stated the Uganda Police thrower who started off with a 48m performance.
Her next throw was at 51 then 52 before the historic fourth 55.59m throw.
Her performance though within the August Rabat All Africa Games requirement, was however short of the 61.50m Doha requirement.
"I believe I can also qualify for Doha. All I need is better training and competition," stated Lalam, who trains herself. She gets lessons from the internet.
Performances elsewhere were not very good on the largely cool day.