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Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The world 5000m and 10,000m champion Joshua Cheptegei has registered to take part in the 6th national Trials slated for April 24th, 2021.
Cheptegei will be making a maiden appearance at the championship after missing the other editions on the Uganda Athletics Federation (UAF) calendar.
Namayo Mawerere, the UAF publicity secretary said Cheptegei will join other local athletes and others from Kenya in the national Trials. Many of the athletes will be all out to try and hit qualifying times for 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
According to Mawerere this time Cheptegei will not be competing in his 5000m/10,000m races, but the 1500m which will help him develop speed for 5000m ahead of the Tokyo Olympics.
The presence of the World Champion in middle distance and the invited Kenyan runners especially in the long distance races will help improve the quality of the national trials.
Ugandans Ronald Musagala, Abu Mayanja will be the other seasonal Ugandan athletes who will compete in the 1500m race.
Women middle distance race is also expected to be highly competitive with World Champion Halima Nakaayi battling against new kid on the block, Prisca Chesang Chemweno who is currently enjoying good form in the 800m and1500m races. Chesang won the 1500m in the women race of the 5th Track and field competition.
The competition will be intended to select more athletes for the Tokyo Olympics, Africa Senior Championships and the World U-20 Championships.
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