Dorcus Inzikuru in action in the women's 3000m Steeplechase final (© Getty Images)
Kampala, UgandaIt comes as no surprise that World and Commonwealth 3000m Steeplechase champion Dorcus Inzikuru is focusing this year on retaining her World crown at the 11th IAAF World Championships in Athletics, Osaka, Japan (25 August – 2 September 2007).
“I am not sitting back,” said Inzikuru who is expected to return to her training base in Italy later this month. “I have been in Uganda preparing for the recent World Cross Country (in Mombasa) and now the focus has turned to Japan.”
“I am ready to battle with my opponents from Kenya and Russia. I will travel to Italy for my preparations for the big event,” said Inzikuru.
Inzikuru attended the Ugandan Sportsperson of the Year ceremony held last weekend at Luogogo, near the Ugandan capital Kampala but both she and reigning African 10,000m champion Moses Kipsiro were beaten to the title by fellow track and field athlete Boniface Kiprop, whose performances during the 2006 season were exceptional.
Kiprop won the 10,000m gold medal at the Commonwealth Games held in Melbourne, Australia and later set new Ugandan outdoor records over the 3000m (7:40.58 – Gateshead) and 5000m (12:57.11 – Stockholm) during last season’s IAAF World Athletics Tour. Kiprop, who was absent from the ceremony won the award for the second time after achieving the same accolade in 2004. Inzikuru has won the title a record three times (2000, 2002 and 2005).
At the ceremony Inzikuru called upon the government to give more support towards athletics so as to motivate more undiscovered Ugandan runners in the remote areas of Bukwo, where altitude athletics camps are located.
“There are many other medal prospects in athletics in these remote areas that only need motivation from the state.”
Daniel Senfuma for IAAF
