Sande Bashaija
5 May 2008
Uganda's team captain Annet Kabasindi led by example, becoming the only athlete to reach the finals at the 16th Africa Senior Championships at Addis Ababa Stadium, Saturday night.
The six-time national champion, threw 46.15 metres in the women's javelin finals, finishing fifth before a full capacity 30,000 crowd.
"I am happy I reached the finals. It has been a tough outing for the team and hope this can be a consolation," Kabasindi SAID. She however failed to hit the Olympic Games qualifying mark.
The performance was way below her personal best of 49.13m but she believes she would have grabbed a medal with better preparations.
"I still feel unfit. We didn't have enough trials before coming here, which I think would have helped me improve. But I still hope to hit the 50 mark," she said.
The All Africa Games participant threw a 46.06 to make the finals but was at fault in the proceeding two throws before recovering from sixth to fifth place with 46.15. South African Sunette Viljoen was in her own class with a 55.17m throw to win gold ahead of Lindy Agricole of Seychelles (52.92) and Egyptian Hanaa Omar (52.32).
Ethiopians meanwhile braved another downpour to watch Kenenisa Bekele, who was due to compete in the 5000m last night.
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