Hosts Uganda confident
Uganda Athletics Federation chair Ben Okello (right) welcomes some members of the Zambian cross country team for the World Cross Country Championship at Entebbe Airport. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO |
What you need to know:
- Uganda’s cross country head coach Benjamin Longiross and his charges arrived in Kampala from their training base in Kapchorwa on Friday and moved into camp at Hotel Africana before having a feel of the Kololo Independence Ground course which will host Sunday’s IAAF World Cross Country Championships as teams continued streaming into the Ugandan capital.
- Unlike during the camp for the 2014 Africa Cross Country Championships where coach Peter Wemali allegedly sexually harassed female runners, business has been smooth this time round.
- “We have been friends as a team and our coaches were really good to us,” team captain Timothy Toroitich told Nation Media Group’s publication Daily Monitor in Kampala.
Uganda’s cross country head coach Benjamin Longiross and his charges arrived in Kampala from their training base in Kapchorwa on Friday and moved into camp at Hotel Africana before having a feel of the Kololo Independence Ground course which will host Sunday’s IAAF World Cross Country Championships as teams continued streaming into the Ugandan capital.
Unlike during the camp for the 2014 Africa Cross Country Championships where coach Peter Wemali allegedly sexually harassed female runners, business has been smooth this time round.
“We have been friends as a team and our coaches were really good to us,” team captain Timothy Toroitich told Nation Media Group’s publication Daily Monitor in Kampala.
“Kapchorwa is really nice and we had access to all avenues for training. If we needed a flat area, a slope or a hill, it was there,” Ronald Musagala, who will do the mixed relay, told this paper.
Athletes further highlighted the comfort Kapchorwa has over camps previously held in Bukwo.
“There is access and quality of services like good medication unlike in Bukwo where we there are challenges,” said Doreen Chemutai, competitor for the senior women’s 10km race.
There have not been any serious health challenges. “We had no serious cases of sickness except colds and flu which was manageable.” Chemutai added.
Chemutai’s partner Racheal Chebet praised “the good feeding at camp and teammates’ discipline compared to other training”.
The team will be tasked for hunt for an individual medal for the first time since Moses Kipsiro won bronze in the senior men’s 12km race at 2010 edition held at the Mylcinek Park in Bydgoszcz, Poland.
Cross country powerhouses Ethiopia arrived on Thursday and Kenya jetted in Friday.
Team Uganda:
Junior Women: Peruth Chemutai, Esther Chekwemoi, Sarah Chelangat, Janat Chemusto, Adha Munguleya, Scallet Chemos. Reserves: Joy Cheptoek and Benna Sikuku
Junior Men: Jacob Kiplimo, Titus Kwemoi Given, Victor Kiplangat, Elisha Chemutai, Kevin Kibet, Mathew Chekwurui. Reserves: Anthony Ayeko and Abel Chebet
Senior Women: Mercyline Chelangat, Racheal Zena Chebet, Stella Chesang, Doreen Chesang, Doreen Chemutai, Emily Chebet. Reserve: Annet Chebet
Senior Men: Joshua Cheptegei, Phillip Kipyeko, Abdallah Mande, Timothy Toroitich, Stephen Kiprotich, Stephen Kissa. Reserves: Fred Musobo and Mande Bushendich
Mixed Relay: Winnie Nanyondo, Geoffrey Ruto, Dorcus Ajok, Ronald Musagala. Reserves: Esther Chebet and Abu Mayanja
