Sande Bashaija
1 April 2008
Kampala — MANY Ugandans who watched Moses Kipsiro compete in the World Cross Country Championships on Sunday, could have been left disappointed by the star's average performance.
At least the majority expected him to challenge for a medal with the top three; Kenenisa Bekele, Kenyan Leonard Komon and Eritrean Zersenay Tadese. After all, Kipsiro has defeated Tadese before and it was unbelievable seeing the 2007 Sports Personality of the Year cross the finish line in 13th position.
Kipsiro and Boniface Kiprop's failure to finish in the top ten ensured Uganda's senior men's team failed to defend the bronze medal they won in Mombasa last year. Much as the 6th place in Edinburgh is not bad, the general consensus is that the boys would have done better.
Kiprop is back
In the first three laps Kiprop showed he can still march the world's best despite not competing in a long time. He deserves credit for finishing 16th but like Kipsiro, Kiprop lacked the speed to run all out.
The duo never looked worn out at the end of the 12km race and it was clear their training must have focused so much on endurance at the expense of speed work. The reshuffling of the coaching staff, which saw Gordon Ahimbisibwe, the coach that led the team to bronze last year, dropped together with Mackaybeth Akankwasa, has therefore proved costly to the nation. But all hope is not lost.
Benjamin Kiplagat, who finished fourth for the junior team to win a bronze medal is one positive that cannot go unnoticed. Kiplagat, 19, came close to winning an individual medal but was only denied by his final kick that gave advantage to Ethiopian Ibrahim Jeilan (gold), Kenyans Ayele Abshero (silver) and Lucas Kimeri (bronze). Kiplagat, fifth at last year's edition in Mombasa, Kenya, led from the start and paced with the leading pack until about 300m when he couldn't do the demolition job.
He clocked 22 minutes and 43 seconds, beating national champion Geoffrey Kusuro (22:56) to eighth position. Stephen Kiproitich (23:09) and Abraham Kiplimo (23:17) crossed the line in 12th place and 13th place respectively as the youthful team amassed 37 points. Another Ugandan Ben Siwa was 22nd in 24:01. With Kiplagat joining the senior team next year, Uganda can challenge favourably if the UAF technical team gets it right.
Junior men team results
Kenya 21 points
Ethiopia 28
Uganda 37
Japan 119
Senior men
1. K. Bekele (ETH) 34: 38
2. Leonard Komon (KEN) 34:41
3. Zesenay Tadese (ERI) 34:43
13. Moses Kipsiro (UGA) 35:29
16. B. Kiprop (UGA) 35:41
29. M. Toroitich (UGA) 36:33
47. W. Kipkemei (UGA) 37:02
50.Moses Aliwa (UGA) 37:08
56. Simon Ayeko (UGA) 37:20
64. N. Kiprono (UGA) 37:32
131. N. Chebet (UGA) 39:10
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