200 set for National Half Marathon

Over 200 runners are set for the 5th edition of the National Road Running Championships in Kiboga as the national team of five athletes leave for Slovenia to compete in the World Mountain Running Championships.

The domestic event and the World Mountain Championships are slated for Sunday September 5, 2010.

The national team comprise World Champion Geofrey Kusuro who will be defending his title and James Kibet who scooped a bronze medal in last year's championships hosted in Madesimo, Italy. The other athletes on the team vying for individual medals and team accolade include national champion Stephen Kiprotich, Martin Toroitich and Dickson Huru.

Meanwhile, twenty five teams which include clubs, universities and district teams have confirmed participation in the one-day 21km road race in Kiboga.

The championship has been organised by the Uganda Athletics Federation in conjunction with the Kiboga District Athletics Association to select a national team to represent the country at the 19th International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Road Running Championships due on October 16, 2010 in Nanning, China.

Top athletes have confirmed participation who include national champion, Isaac Kiprop (UPDF) who won last year's 16km race in Kampala, second placed Moses Aliwa (Arua Club) and 3rd placed Jackson Kiprop (Prisons) and Martin Toroitich who recently returned home from competition in Europe.

The other contestants who topped last year's national charts comprise National Record holder, Nicholas Kiprono (Kampala Central), Wilson Kipkemei (Arua), Fred Arapsudi (Standard High), Alex Chesakit and Francis Musani (UPDF) among others.

The event has attracted 21km national women champion Adero Nyakisi (Prisons), Joan Chemutai and Immaculate Chemutai (UPDF) who finished 2nd and 3rd in last year's championships. The others are Grace Chesang, Emily Chebet (UPDF), Irene Chemusto and Vanis Chemutai (Prisons) who finished the race in that order in last year's 4th edition.

African 10,000m silver medalist Moses Kipsiro and former 3000m steeplechase world champion Dorcus Inzikuru who recently sustained an injury, will however grace the occasion.

The other teams that have entered the 5th National Road Running Championships in Kiboga include, hosts Kiboga District, Ndejje University, Kakira Sugar Works, Sebei college, Standard Kapchorwa, Kibuuka Memorial, Bukwo District, Standard High Zana, Jinja District, Police, Rise and Shine, Sironko District, Nkumba University, Makindye Division, Moroto District, Photofix, Soroti District, Mbale District, among others.