Kenya's Mwai thrills the TBAC Invitational Championship

 

 

Mwai clocked a blistering 20.72 at the Third TBAC Invitational Championship on Saturday.

 

Moses Mila holds the national record at 20.63 set in Johannesburg in 1998.

 

Mwai was thrilled after the race. "The weather was just perfect. The opposition was also good," he said after the race that also had runner-up Tarsis Orogot registering a 20.92 personal best.

 

In equally superb form was Leonard Opiny who also ran a season's best of 49.95 in the 400 meters.

 

The Uganda Wildlife Authority runner got off to a perfect start and then led throughout up to the tape in a race that also drew big names like Aaron Adoli, Jared Momanyi and Dennis Opio.

 

Opiny's time just like Mwai's mark was also a meet record.

 

Opiny's 45.65 in 2016 and Opio's 45.7 in 2015 are the only faster times at Namboole. Davis Kamoga holds the national record of 44.37 set in 1997 at the Athens World Championships.

 

Much as Mwai and Opiny's times were within this month's All Africa Games' requirement, they were outside the Doha World Championships qualifying times.

 

The Doha mark for the 200m is 20.40 while 400m entry point is 45.30.

 

Meet records were also set by Shida Leni (Police) in 400m- 52.12, Dorcus Ajok (Police) in 800m -2:06.63, Annet Chesang in 5000m- 16:22.72, Mildred Gamba, Maureen Banura, Jacent Nyamahunge and Emily Nanziri in 4x100m relay- 47.86, Josephine Lalam (Police) 52.04 meters-javelin, Caroline Aber(Prisons) 11.87m shot putt.

 

Pius Adome (Police) 10.56- 100m, Abu Mayanja (UWA) 1:46.11-800m and 1500m in 3:43.90, A. Chebures (UCU) 7.25-long jump, A. Chebures (UWA) 14:00.06- 5000m, Dred Ojia, Yahaya Malyamungu, Emmanuel Nuwagaba and Pius Adome (Police) in 40.31- in the 4x100 relay.

 

TBAC is an annual event organized by active and retired Ugandan athletes at home and in the diaspora.  The one-day event's lead sponsors are Flexi Okello and Andrew Opata.

 

The event simulates IAAF's Diamond League. "Our intention is to give athletes a feel of how things are done internationally," explained one of the organisers Mildred Gamba.

 

"The top eight athletes earn prize money with top 3 getting medals too.  The winner will get sh80,000, second sh 70,000 and third sh60,000.