Six athletes were on Tuesday flagged off by National Council of Sports (NCS) for this year’s IAAF World Athletics Championships.
Uganda will be represented by a record 22 athletes the 17th edition due September 27-October 6 at the multipurpose Khalifa International Stadium in Doha and the six is the first batch to be seen off.
The six athletes include; Shida Leni, Stella Chesang, Peruth Chemutai, Stephen Kissa, Linet Chebet and Rachael Zena Chebet.
This will be joined by Halima Nakayi, Winnie Nanyondo and Oscar Chelimo who are already in Europe. The other batch that includes among others Jacob Kiplimo, Solomon Mutai, Stephen Kiprotich and Joshua Cheptegei, will leave for Doha on October 4.
Coach Mohammed Abdallah said that the last bunch –who are long distance runners, are still maximizing training.
“We have had good preparations hope to do better than last time since we have a bigger and stronger contingent,” he said.
The team has been camped for two months in Kapchorwa but this could be a disadvantage as Kapchorwa conditions are cold while Doha is hot. Uganda managed one medal –when Cheptegei came second, behind Mo Farah to settle for Silver in the 5000M during the last championship held in 2017 in London, England.
Among the athletes to watch is Kissa, returns to the Championships after failing to make the semifinals cut in London.
His personal best time is 13:10.93 minutes achieved in July 2018 at Athletissima in Lausanne. Peruth Chemutai is another runner who wants to prove the world –having won Silver in the 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games in Apia in 1500m and 3000m.
Leni makes a debut at the World championships buoyant after breaking the 400m and 200m national records in July.
Chesang, who never made the 5000m semifinals in 2017, will this time compete in 10000m. Over 1900 athletes from 210 teams are expected to take part in the World championships in Qatar.
TEAM:
Male (12)
Ronald Musagala – 1500m
Chemutai Albert – 3000mSC
Kiplagat Benjamin – 3000mSC
Sikowo Abel – 3000mSc
Kissa Stephen- 5000 m
Chelimo Oscar – 5000 m
Cheptegei Joshua – 10,000m
Kiplimo Jaccob – 10,000
Mande Abdallah 10,000
Kiprotich Stephen – marathon
Musubo Fred – marathon
Mutai Solomon – marathon.
Female (10)
Shida Leni – 400m
Halimah Nakayi -800m
Nanyondo Winnie – 800&1500
Chebet Esther – 1500m
Chemutai Peruth – 3000 mSC
Chelengat Sarah – 5000m
Chekwel Juliet – 10,000 m
Chebet Reachel zena – 10,000m
Chesang Stellah 10,000m
Chebet Linet – marath
