The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kiprotich a doubt, Cheptegei going for double
Kampala, Uganda| THE INDEPENDENT & AFP | Former World and Olympic marathon champion Stephen Kiprotich is battling to be fit in time for the London World Athletics Championship.
A Ugandan athletics official confirmed Kiprotich is a doubt, saying his preparations since his last race have not gone according to plan. “His managers are yet to decide if he will go ahead and compete but the reports we ahve indicate he feels his preparations have not been good enough,” the official said.
London was the venue of Kiprotich’s most memorable moment, the marathon Olympic gold at the 2012 Olympics. Kiprotich’s last race was in April, when he put up his best showing in three years by finishing second at the Haspa Hamburg International Marathon.
Kiprotich however remains one of 20 athletes, 12 men and 8 women on a tentative list set to represent Uganda at the World Championships August 4-13.
Uganda will field men in the marathon, 5000m, 10000m, 3000m steeplechase and the 1500m. Women competitors are earmarked for the marathon, 10000m, 5000m, 3000mSC, 1500 and 800m.
Cheptegei to take on Farah again
Medal favourite on the Ugandan team is Joshua Cheptegei, who like at the last Olympics, will attempt the double – 5000 and 10000m.
Standing in his way again is British athletics legend Mo Farah, who is set for one final double title attempt.
Cheptegei, who collapsed spectacularly at the Kampala World Cross Country Championships in March that he led going into the final lap, has since recovered to make it to the final of the 5000m at the IAAF Diamond League final.
Cheptegei finished third in the 5000m last week at the IAAF Diamond League meeting in Lausanne, in an impressive personal best time of 12:59.83 to qualify for the 5000m Diamond League final in Zurich on August 24.
A week earlier, Cheptegei showed he is back on form with a 4th place, this time in the 3000m at the Paris Diamond Athletics League .
Cheptegei clocked 7:34.96 to finish fourth in a race won by Edris Muktar of Ethiopia in a personal best of 7:32.31.
Against Farah at the Rio Olympics, Cheptegei finished 8th in the 5000m and 6th in the 10000m.
Junior team in Nairobi
Uganda has sent a team of 12 to the World Under-18 athletics championships. (see full list Page 2)
More than 800 athletes from 131 countries, as well as an athlete refugee team (ART), have assembled in the Kenyan capital for what will be the final edition of the global championships for athletes in the U18 age group.
The championships will take place from 12-16 July.
Kipsiro finishes 4th in Uganda Mountain race
Results from the 12km Uganda mountain running championships that took place in Kapchorwa on Sunday.
Men: 1- Joel Ayeko (Arua club) 43:51.2, 2- Victor Kiplangat (Arua) 44:04.2, 3- Titas Kibet (Arua) 44:19.3 , 4-Moses Kipsiro (KCCA) 45:13.9 , 5- Levi Kiprotich (Arua) 45:19.6
Women: 1- Rispa Chebet (Police) 54:00.1, 2- Sarah Akiror (Pisons) 54:56.6, 3- Mercyline Chelangat (Police) 55:56.8, 4- Rebecca Cheptegei (UPDF) 56:29.5, 5- Doreen Chesang (Arua) 58:02.8
