National 400m Record holder, Shida Leni has opted out of the 5th National Track and Field Competition due this weekend at Namboole Stadium to attempt upping her 2020 Tokyo Olympics qualification.
Leni and 800m runner, Emmanuel Osuje flew out to Zambia on Thursday, 8th April 2021 to compete in the Zambia All- Comers Meet due April 10-11, 2021.
The Zambian invitational competition that has attracted top runners on the Africa Continent provides a better opportunity cost in terms of quality competition to post Tokyo Olympics qualification marks and World Athletics Rankings for the Ugandans.
Leni posted a National Record time of 51.47 in 400m to nearly qualify for Olympics while Osuje was unable to hit the mark when he set a Personal Best 1:47.30 in 800m, both performances in 2019 at Mandela Stadium, Namboole.
“Hitting a better time in Zambia will be something special for me. I believe given international competition opportunities will provide me the necessary stiff competition to achieve my Tokyo Olympics dream,” Leni said before departure to Lusaka.
Meanwhile, at least 200 athletes will be expected at the Namboole Warm-up track for the 5th National Track and Field competition this weekend. (April 10).
Its also going to be a busy weekend for four Ugandan marathoners, Priscilla Chelangat, Immaculate Chemutai Fred Musobo and Solomon Mutai competing on April 11, 2021 at the Xiamen International Marathon to qualify for Tokyo Olympics. They departed for Italy on Thursday, April 8, 2021.
The Uganda Athletics Federation has strategically selected a group of athletes to field in various international competitions in a bid to improve on their world rankings in line with the Tokyo Olympics on-going qualification window that ends by June 2021.
