Geoffrey Kusuro, winner of the Ugandan junior Cross Country title (© Daniel Senfuma)
Kampala, UgandaGeoffrey Kusuro will lead Uganda’s 8 man contingent to the 12th IAAF World Junior Championships 8-13 July, Bydgoszcz, Poland.
The team which is mainly comprised of distance runners was announced today by the national athletics governing body Uganda Athletics Federation (UAF) that opted for distance events where Uganda has gained some prominence in recent IAAF events.
“We have achieved a lot of successes at distance running at almost every major event we have sent a team. We have selected these boys and girls on merit, there was no short cut, one had to beat the qualifying standards,” explained the UAF Vice President - technical - Peter Okot Omony while releasing the team list at the federation’s HQ at Metropole House, in the city centre of Kampala.
Kusuro, Kiplagat big hopes
Kusuro, the reigning Ugandan junior cross country champion is expected to take his international exposure as he battles junior runners in the 5000m, where he has dominated on the local scene.
“We are not scared, we shall try as much as possible to win medals as a team, they (UAF) have trusted us with the Ugandan flag, we shall not let them down,” said Kusuro who has been under going altitude training in Bukwo, far east on the Uganda – Kenya border.
Most of the other runners on the team have a lot of international experience. Benjamin Kiplagat, has participated in the previous two World Cross Country Junior Championships with top ten finishes and also competed at the senior World championships in Osaka at the 3000m Steeplechase, while his team mate Stephen Kiprotich also participated in Osaka over the 5000m.
The other male athletes on the team include Abraham Kiplimo, a former Ugandan half marathon champion, Moses Kibet and Alex Cherop.
Only two female athletes Doreen Chesang, who competed at the 2007 World Youth Championships in Ostrava and Dorcus Chesang, who made her international debut at the 2007 World Cross Country Championships will represent the country over the 3000m.
Reigning Commonwealth Games 10,000m champion Boniface Kiprop and two lap runner Abraham Chepkiwrok are the last Ugandans to win medals at the World Junior Championships with Kiprop winning gold in 10,000m in 2004 and Chepkiwrok winning a bronze medal over 800m in Beijing, China in 2006.
Daniel Senfuma for IAAF
Team:
Men
Geoffrey Kusuro (5000m), Benjamin Kiplagat (3000m SC), Stephen Kiprotich (10,000m), Abraham Kiplimo (5000m), Moses Kibet (1500m), Alex Cherop (5000m)
Women
Doreen Chesang (3000m), Dorcus Chesang (3000m)
