Thursday , November 14 2024

Ugandan athletes to use Namboole meet to warm up for Tokyo Olympics

Namboole finally hosting sports events, for the first time since March last year

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Athletes have converged for the 5th track and field trials at Mandela National Stadium in Namboole. Different athletes expect good performance in today’s trials as the stadium resumes hosting sports activities.

The trials are intended to help the Federation assess the performance of its athletes in preparations for the Tokyo 2021 Olympics.

Joshua Jagalo, from the Uganda Police who runs 200m and 400m says he is interested in lowering the time he used in the last edition of the championship and he has been training for that. Jagalo won 200 meters in the last edition of the men’s track and field championship when he clocked 22:03, beating South Sudan’s duo Deng Thiel who clocked 22:06 and Mayen Francis Kuol who came third at 22:76, Jagalo expects to build from that pace to improve in today’s event.

Fortunate Turihohabwe who will participate in the 800 metres says he is going to try and beat his time of 1:50 seconds. He adds that he expects competition from other athletes.

Turihohabwe who has spent more time training at Makerere grounds adds that he will build on his previous good results to win the championship. He won 800 metres in Ethiopia at the All African University games and won 800m again in East African games in 2018.

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Uganda Athletics Federation publicity Secretary Namayo Mawerere says over 200 athletes have lined up to participate in the trials competitions.

The event will be the third to be organized by the Uganda Athletics Federation after failing to organize the first and second National trials after they failed to find a venue because Namboole was being used as a covid-19 treatment centre.

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