1:45.00 breakthrough for Chepkirwot as stadium records fall at Akii-Bua Memorial

Kampala, UgandaEastern Africa and Ugandan cross country champion Isaac Kiprop and Gombe senior secondary school student Abraham Chepkirwot registered stadium records, the latter with an unlikely assault on the national 800 metre record to highlight the one-day track and field meeting organized to remember the achievements of the Olympic hurdler John Akii-Bua at Namboole stadium near Uganda’s capital Kampala on Saturday (17).

Akii-Bua is Uganda’s only Olympic gold medallist on the track after winning the 400m Hurdles at the 1972 Olympics held in Munich, Germany. [NB: for more on Akii-Bua, please see our meeting preview here.]

Surprising 1:45.00 breakthrough for Chepkirwot

17-year-old Abraham Chepkirwot kept the memorial event alive in one of the last events of the day when he almost set a national record in the men’s 800m final competing in what was his first major national event. Running well under a minute in the first lap, the young Chepkirwot was less tha a second shy of Julius Achon’s national record when he crossed with an impressive 1:45.0.

“I feel great to be associated with big names like Achon. Give me some time, I will better that record,” said a smiling Chepkirwot. Achon's mark of 1:44.55 was set in 1996. This performance as well earned Chepkirwot a place on the Ugandan world junior championships team that will be named later this month.

Comfortable largely solo effort for Kiprop

Kiprop, still only 19 and fresh from the 34th World Cross Country Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, took advantage of the absent Commonwealth champion Boniface Kiprop who did return from Europe, to sweep the 10,000m in a new personal best of 28:27.00, also a new stadium record. Kiprop was first set a speedy pace by his teammates Fred Arapsudi and Patrick Cherutwo who also competed in Japan, and then had to pace himself in the last six laps after separating from the rest of the field. After a 58-second last lap, he improved Martin Toroitich’s 2004 Namboole stadium record by more than a minute.

Sebei College’s Steven Kiprotich finished in second position a minute later with 29:19.4 while Cherutwo and Arapsudi finished third and fourth.

“I feel okay and I think I can run a better time next time if the conditions faver me at the national championships. It was a nice race though I had to push myself in the last laps,” said Kiprop who also qualified for August's Africa senior championships in Mauritius.

The 5000 was won by junior runner Geoffrey Kusuro who out-kicked Kampala International University's (KIU) Simon Ayeko over the last 400m to cross with a new personal best of 13:56.7 while Ayeko crossed with 14:08.1, making it one of the fastest 5000m races ever held at Namboole.

2004 world junior championships runner featuring for Kampala Central Jet Barnabas Kimwogo out-smarted all his rivals in the 3000m Steeplechase, winning in 9:02.6, another stadium record. National champion Patrick Rono was relegated to third position with 9:20.8 while Kimwogo’s team-mate Ezekiel Kiprotich finished second with 9:15.7.

Yosam Kasanga ran a new personal best of 10.4 which was also the fastest while Steven Odwar’s 21.6 was the fastest in 200m.

Waiswa Lukungu did what was expected from him when he won the main cause of the day (400m Hurdles) with 55.2 seconds, his first major hurdles event in his way to replacing Akii-Bua.

Webombesa's return the highlight on the women's programme

National star Catherine Webombesa, featuring for army side Uganda Peoples Defense Forces (UPDF), returned from a one year break with a sweet 800m victory over the on-form Up Hill student Janet Achola. Webombesa, 23, led from start to finish though her lead was always put on the sword by Achola whose late siege couldn’t stop Webombesa who crossed with 2:15.0 to Achola's 2:15.9.

However Wembombesa’s return was altered by Standard High student Linnet Toroitich who beat her in the 1500m in 4:36.4 and later Toroitich won the 3000 as well in with 10:13.6 beating off Gombe’s Brenda Kurgat and Iganga’s Halima Naigaga who were second and third in 10:21.5 and 10:36.3 respectively.

Bombo S.S student Rispa Jemel clocked 17:30.2 to win the 5000m, well ahead of Jane Chepchana (18:16.5).

Bayigga, Kabasindi dominate the sprints and throws

Kampala International University’s Justine Bayigga remained the country’s top female sprinter after registering the fastest times in both the 100m and 200m races of the day. She won the 100m with 11.6 and later won the 200m with 24.1; in the former she easily qualified for the African championships.

Another KIU student, Annet Kabasindi, won all of the day's women's field events. She threw 48.20m to win the Javelin Throw, and took home wins in the Shot Put (10.57) and Discus Throw (35.68) as well. 

Daniel Senfuma for IAAF (Daily Monitor)

Selected results:

MEN-

100m Heat 1
1. Stephen Odwar (Kakira) 10.6
2. Samuel Mawanda (KIU) 10.8
3. Francis Ssemmambo (Nkumba) 11.5

100m Heat 2
1. Yosam Kasanga (Kakira) 10.4 PB
2. Martin Achila (KIU) 10.8
3. Godfrey Achiria (Ndejje) 11.1

200m Heat 1
1. Stephen Odwar (Kakira) 21.6
2. Kassim Latigo (KIU) 22.1
3. Ramathan Akulla (Gombe S.S) 22.3

200m Heat 2
1. Daniel Oketch (MAK) 21.8
2. Stephen Ssenyondo (Berkley) 22.7
3. Moses Sserwadda (Rhino) 22.9

400m
1. Daniel Okiror (UPDF) 47.8
2. Ramathan Akulla (Gombe S.S) 48.1
3. Julius Kasule (MAK) 48.7

800m
1. Abraham Chepkirwot (Gombe S.S) 1:45.0 PB (SR)
2. Jimmy Adar (Akii Bua S.S) 1:47.4 PB
3. Robert Onyango (Rhino) 1:52.1

1500m
1. Francis Kasagule (Nkumba) 3:51.5
2. Sack Kipyego (Standard High) 3:51.9
3. Mark Masai (Ndejje) 3:52.0

5,000m
1. Geofrey Kusuro (Arua) 13:56.7 PB
2. Simon Ayeko (KIU) 14:08.1
3. Joseph Chebet (Standard High) 14:15.1

10,000m
1. Isaac Kiprop (Standard High) 28:27.0 PB SR
2. Stephen Kiprotich (Sebei College) 29:19.4
3. Patrick Cherotwo (Standard High) 30:06.5

400m hurdles
1. Waiswa Lukungu (Kakira) 55.2
2. Moses Obwalatum (Ndejje) 58.2
3. Jimmy Kato Odoki (Dynamic S.S) 59.3

3,000m steeplechase
1. Barnabas Kimwogo (Kampala Central) 9:02.6
2. Ezekiel Kiprotich (Kampala Central) 9:15.7
3. Patrick Rono (Ndejje) 9:20.8

WOMEN -

100m
1. Justine Bayigga (KIU) 11.6
2. Mildred Gamba (MAK) 11.8
3. Milly Nanziri (Ndejje) 12.4

200m
1. Justine Bayigga (KIU) 24.1
2. Sarah Alobo (Ndejje) 25.7
3. Milly Nanziri (Ndejje) 25.8

400m
1. Joan Ayo (Akii Bua) 59.1
2. Evelyne Amucu (Gombe S.S) 59.5
3. Seera Amano (Iganga Parents) 1:06.1

800m
1. Catherine Webombesa (UPDF) 2:15.0
2. Janet Achola (Uphill College) 2:15.9
3. Edna Kosgei (Gombe S.S) 2:17.2

1500m
1. Linnet Toroitich (Standard High) 4:36.4
2. Catherine Webombesa (UPDF) 4:43.7
3. Brenda Kurgat (Gombe S.S) 4:50.9

3,000m
1. Linnet Toroitich (Standard High) 10:13.6
2. Brenda Kurgat (Gombe S.S) 10:21.5
3. Halima Naigaga (Iganga Town View) 10:36.3

5,000m
1. Rispa Jemel (Bombo) 17:30.2
2. Jane Kipchana (Gombe) 18:16.5
3. Shauline Chepkurui (Kakira) 19:05.2

Shot Put
1. Annet Kabasindi (KIU) 10.57m
2. Rose Oyella (Ndejje) 10.07m
3. Mildred Gamba (MAK) 9.70m

Discus
1. Annet Kabasindi (KIU) 35.68m
2. Erinah Taalya (Jinja) 26.03m
3. Rose Oyella (Ndejje) 25.60m

Javelin
1. Annet Kabasindi (KIU) 48.20m
2. Esther Apio (UPDF) 40.10m
3. Rose Oyella (Ndejje) 33.88m