Abraham Chepkirwok (Uganda) (© Getty Images)
Abraham Chepkirwok, Moses Kipsiro and Boniface Kiprop have been named on Uganda’s team to compete at this summer’s Olympic Games in Beijing.
Chepkirwok, 19, won the bronze medal at the World Junior Championships in 2006, reaching the finals of last year’s senior World Champs in Osaka as well competing at this year’s World Indoor championships in Valencia.
In Madrid on 5 July he ran 1:43.72, which replaced his newly set PB of 1:44.53 set in Berlin on 1 June, but also improved the 12-year-old national record of 1:44.55 held by Julius Achon. In between these runs he had raced 1:45.45 in Oslo on 6 June, and since his national record Chepkirwok has run a 1:44.26 in Athens (13 July).
“He is fifth fastest in the world this year, his main target will be reaching the finals and try for a medal for himself as well as his country Uganda,” said Chepkirwok’s British coach Ricky Simms.
World championships 5000m bronze medallist Kipsiro and Commonwealth Games 10,000m champion Boniface Kiprop are Uganda’s main hopes at the longer distances.
Despite being currently the third fastest in the world over the 5000m in 2008, Kipsiro “has the confidence in his final lap and I believe a medal is not far his reach if he has a good outing in Beijing,” said Simms who also coaches Kipsiro.
Boniface Kiprop cannot be ruled out for a medal after producing one of the country’s stunning performances at the last Olympics in Athens, where he finished 4th in the 10,000m but has suffered from a number of injuries since.
“He has a lot of experience of major events, his training has steadily improved and a top 6 place can’t be out of his reach come the Olympic Games,” confirmed Simms.
Other challengers for Uganda are World Junior Champs 3000m Steeplechase silver medallist Benjamin Kiplagat, marathoner Alex Malinga, a sixth placer at the 2005 World Championships, and Geoffrey Kusuro. 400m sprinter Justine Bayigga is the only female athlete on the team.
Daniel Senfuma and Namayo Mawerere for IAAF
Team:
Men
Abraham Chepkirwok (800m), Moses Kipsiro (5000m), Boniface Kiprop (5000m & 10,000m), Geoffrey Kusuro (5000m), Benjamin Kiplagat (3000m SC), Alex Malinga (marathon)
Women
Justine Bayigga (400m)
