Martin Toroitich (Arua) 1:00:17 and Wilson Busienei Kipkemei (Arua) 1:00:16 at the national road running champs (© Daniel Senfuma)
Wilson Buseinei Kipkemei, who was 4th at last year’s World Running Championships in Debrecen, Hungary, and Isaac Kiprop, Eastern Africa Cross Country champion, lead Uganda’s medal hunt at 2nd IAAF World Road Running Championships, Udine, Italy, 14 October 2007.
The Uganda Athletics Federation (UAF) has named six athletes in their Udine squad who are now due to start altitude training in Bukwo district, where the country’s major athletics camp is located.
Isaac Kiprop and Wilson Buseinei, the 2005 World University Games triple gold medallist, was selected after the 20km National Road Running Championships held two weeks ago. It will be Kiprop's debut at the World Running Championships.
"I am seriously concentrating on preparations for this championship,“ said Wilson Buseinei Kipkemei.
Kiprop and Buseinei were both team bronze medallists at the World XC champs this year and two of the other athletes selected to hunt for the silverware in Udine are from that squad too, Martin Toroitich and James Kibet. Completing the line-up are Nicholas Kiprono and new comer Patrick Kibet.
“This year’s team is a mixed blend of young and upcoming athletes with senior and experienced runners. We have high hopes they will make bigger strides in the championships,” said Okot Omony, Uganda Athletics Federation Vice President (Technical Committee).
Uganda finished as the 5th team last October in Debrecen, Hungary. However, on an individual performance level, two Ugandan athletes finished in the top twenty.
Daniel Senfuma and Namayo Mawerere for the IAAF