Uganda: Sprinters Likely to Miss World Championships

Sande Bashaija

20 July 2011

Kampala — Team Uganda will likely travel to Daegu, South Korea, for the World Athletics Championships without any sprinter.

Eleven athletes have already qualified for the showpiece due August 27 to September 4 but the majority are long distance runners, a clear sign that sprinting standards in the country have continued to plummet. “We still hope one or two sprinters will qualify,” Uganda Athletics Federation (UAF) administrator Timothy Masaba said recently. “There is still some time for them to hit the standards.” Their quest starts at Namboole on Friday at the National Championships where electronic timing gadgets will be used for the first time.

In the past many a sprinter have blamed their failures on the lack of the electronic timer but UAF recently acquired one from Germany. “With the electronic timer, we shall be able to know our real potential,” Ali Ngaimoko, the country’s leading sprinter at the moment, said. “But it is also important that we compete in different meets outside the country with tougher opponents. That way, some guys can qualify,” added Ngaimoko, who still believes he can hit the mark and travel to Daegu.

Uganda was once a force to reckon with in the region. The country has also previously produced some world beaters. John Akii-Bua (RIP) ruled the continent and captured 400m hurdles gold at the 1972 Munich Olympics while Davis Kamoga romped to 400m bronze at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

Kamoga is the only Ugandan sprinter to have won a World Championships medal having secured silver in Athens 1997. Since his retirement, Uganda has not had credible representation in sprints at global events, leaving the stage to long distance runners. At the previous World Championships in Berlin, there was no sprinter on the Ugandan team.

It is certain Uganda will again rely on long and middle distance runners in Daegu.Only Sarah Nambawa (triple jump), will be the country’s sole representatives in field events.

Already qualified for Daegu

Kipsiro, Moses Kibet and

Abraham Kiplimo (5000m),

Benjamin Kiplagat (3000m

steeplechase), Nambawa (triple

jump), Jacob Araptany (1500m),

Jane Suuto, Daniel Chepyegon,

Stephen Kiprotich and Nicholas

Kiprono (marathon).

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