OLYMPICS: Cheptegei set for double Rio assault, Police boosts Uganda's team

Joshua Cheptegei wins at the World Juniors. He gets a chance to win a
first senior medal this month.
PHOTO CREDIT Erik van Leeuwen 

Opening ceremony
Friday, August 5 2016 (Saturday 2.00am Uganda time)
Uganda's flag bearer
Swimmer - Joshua Ekirikubinza

The Rio Olympics track and field schedule has handed Uganda's former World and African junior 10000m champion Joshua Kiprui Cheptegei two chances to win his first senior medal.

Cheptegei together with Juliet Chekwel, are the only Ugandan athletes doing a double and have been blessed by a favourable, well spaced schedule. The 10000 metres finals are among the first events at Rio - with the 5000m starting four days later.

Nineteen-year-old Cheptegei, has one of the fastest times in the world this year in the 5000m of 13:00.60 and will be one of the contenders in the 10000m final on August 13, and in the 12.5 lap race on August 17.

Cheptegei is seen as one of the brightest spots on the team, and together with Olympic champion Stephen Kiprotich, our best bet for a medal in Brazil.

2016 TOP LIST

RANK	MARK	COMPETITOR	DOB	NAT	POS		VENUE	DATE
1	12:59.29	Mohamed FARAH	23 MAR 1983	GBR	1		London (Olympic Stadium)	23 JUL 2016
2	12:59.43	Muktar EDRIS	14 JAN 1994	ETH	1		Eugene (Hayward Field), OR	28 MAY 2016
3	12:59.89	Dejen GEBREMESKEL	24 NOV 1989	ETH	1		Somerville, MA	17 JUN 2016
	12:59.96	Muktar EDRIS	14 JAN 1994	ETH	1		Shanghai	14 MAY 2016
4	12:59.98	Geoffrey Kipsang KAMWOROR	22 NOV 1992	KEN	2		Eugene (Hayward Field), OR	28 MAY 2016
5	13:00.20	Hagos GEBRHIWET	11 MAY 1994	ETH	2		Somerville, MA	17 JUN 2016
6	13:00.60	Joshua Kiprui CHEPTEGEI	12 SEP 1996	UGA	2		Shanghai	14 MAY 2016

Chekwel carries women's flag

Chekwel,26, carries the flag for Ugandan women distance runners, and will feature in the 10000m final on August 12, before getting another shot at glory on August 16 in the 5000m final. 

First in action however for team Uganda will be the boxers and swimmers. 

Light heavyweight boxer Kennedy Katende climbs the ring 7pm on Sunday August 7 to face Joshua Buatasi of the United Kingdom, before Jamila Lunkuse dives into the pool for the preliminary, 100m breaststroke race same day.

Athletics only starts on August 12, with the last runners in action on the final day, in the marathon.

Outside Ugandan runners, one of the highlights of the track and field events is the 100m final, Sunday August 14.

Uganda's Boxing schedule
Kennedy Katende Men's light heavyweight August 7
Ronald Serugo Men's flyweight  August 13

Uganda's Swimming schedule
Sunday August 7
Jamila Lunkuse 100m breaststroke

Thursday August 11
Joshua Ekirikubinza Men's 50 m freestyle

Uganda's Athletics schedule
Friday August 12 Day 7
Women's 10000m women

Saturday August 13 Day 8
Women's 3000m Steeplechase round 1
10000m men

Sunday August 14 Day 9 
Women's marathon

Monday August 15 Day 10
men's 3000m steeplechase round 1
women 3000m steeplecahse final

Tuesday August 16 Day 11
women's 5000m round 1
Men's 1500m round 1

Wed August 17 Day Day 12
Men's 5000m round 1
women's 800m round 1
Men's steeplecahse final

Thursday August 18 Day 13
Men's 1500m semifinal
Men's 800m semifinal

Friday August 19 Day 14
women's 5000m final



Saturday August 20 Day 15
Men's 1500m final
Women's 800m final
Men's 5000m final

Sunday August 21 Day 16
Men's Marathon final

State send off

The Uganda team is expected to be flagged off at State House hours before flying out to Rio on Sunday. Athletics federation president and Olympic team manager Dominic Otuchet will lead  the second batch to Rio that has 14 runners, as boxers and swimmers left earlier.

The first batch, the boxers and swimmers left earlier, with Joshua Ekirikubinza set to carry the Ugandan flag at the opening ceremony.

The final batch, the marathon team of  Kiprotich, Jackson Kiprop and Solomon Mutai will stay in high altitude training in Uganda until August 15,  5 days to their race on the final day. 

Uganda's team to Rio comprises 21, 14 men and 7 women. 

"The training has gone well, and all signs are that we will do well in Rio," Otuchet said.

At the last games, Uganda won one medal,  gold from Kiprotich int he marathon.

The track team will be coached by Faustine Kiwa, a coaches instructor supported by Italian Giuseppe Giambrone and Grace Chesang.

FLASH BACK: Museveni sends off the Uganda team to London with a joke.

Uganda's track and field team comprises:

Women
Juliet Chekwel 5000m/10000m
Peruth Chemutai 3000m steeplechase
Stella Chesang 5000m
Halimah Nakaayi 800m
Winnie Nanyondo 800m
Adero Nyakisi Marathon
Men
Jacob Araptany 3000 m steeplechase
Joshua Kiprui Cheptegei 5000m/ 10000 m
Benjamin Kiplagat 3000m steeplechase
Jacob Kiplimo 5000m
Jackson Kiprop Marathon
Stephen Kiprotich
Phillip Kipyego 5000m
Moses Kurong 10000m
Ronald Musagala 1500m
Solomon Mutai Marathon
Timothy Toroitich 10000m

Uganda gets Nike boost

Kale Kayihura hands over kit that Police helped clear to UOC president William
Blick, UAF  president Otuchet and Omara Opitta of the Sports ministry.
PHOTO CREDIT @allandarren

Uganda's Olympic team will travel with their kit to Rio courtesy of Uganda Police and Nike.

Because of hight taxes on sports equipment, Uganda has at previously asked their suppliers to deliver kit at the games, which has often come with one or two hitches.

At one Olympics, taxes amounted to sh88 million, with local officials only able to access the kit well after the games are over. Local sports officials have still failed to secure a government waiver on taxes on this kit.

Uganda Police, who have one of the strongest track and field clubs in the country that includes Cheptegei in their ranks, helped clear the kit this time. Prisons are the national champions, with Kiprotich among their runners.

IGP Kale Kayihura today handed over the kit from Nike, team Uganda's news sponsors, at a brief ceremony. 

"We are proud to be dressed by Nike, who support only the top ranked track and field countries like Kenya," said Uganda Athletics Federation president Otuchet.

Nike's new track and field sponsorship started this year and runs to 2019, and according to Otuchet, the athletics federation lobbied for kit to be provided to the entire Uganda team.

RIO: Two more qualify at National Championships

Nakaayi

Ayeko hit 10000m qualifying time

A lot of action, many brave runs but only two new qualifiers.

Uganda's two-day National track and field Championships were crowned on Thursday with Olympic qualification times for Thomas Ayeko (10000m) and Halima Nakaayi (800m). 

Historic results they were as well, as it is the first time Ugandans are qualifying for the Olympics at the national championships courtesy of a modern track and new timing equipment. 

With few days to the qualifying deadline of July 11, 22 Ugandans have already hit the 2016 Rio Olympic minimum standards, but only 17 will make the trip - unless more qualify this weekend.

First to qualify at Namboole was Ayeko. Stretched by 10000m ace Tim Toroitich, Ayeko stunned a strong field Wednesday to become the 4th in contention for one of the three places in the 25-lap race.

KCCA athletics club's Ayeko benefited from the participation of 4 of 7 marathoners who have hit the Olympic qualifying time, plus 10000m ace Toroitich who set a blistering pace.  Ayeko took over the lead in the last 7 laps to better the qualifying mark by 3 seconds.

The Uganda team looks set to be picked primarily using the best times run, so Ayeko 27:57.03 will be on the waiting bench.

Joshua Cheptgei (10000m and 5000m), Timothy Toroitich (10000m) and Moses Kurong (10000m) qualified earlier with better times. 

Assured of a place is Nakaayi, who capitalised on a stunning run by Dorcus Ajok and Winnie Nanyondo, to qualify on day 2, Thursday. Nanyondo, who has already qualified set the pace and dropped off but Ajok, leading by close to 10 metres, fell 30metres to the finish.

Nanyondo raced past to win in 2:01.44 (Olympic qualifying time 2:01.50).

Ajok: What might have been

The race that will however remain on fans' mind for a while is the 800m women race.

Nanyondo, who has already qualified set a blistering 500m pace, but by the time she was giving way, Ajok was fully in charge. She took a 20 meters lead into the final 100m, she tripped and fell down 30 meters to the tape.

Nakaayi, who was second, raced past - and when the clock was stopped, she had qualified. If Ajok had not gone down, she was well into Olympic qualification time  - and to many - the national record would have fallen.

Uganda will next month send her biggest contingent of track and field athletes to an Olympics. 

Up to 21 athletes have met the Olympic qualifying team, but with quotas set for all races, Uganda's team will feature at least 17 - four better than Seoul 1988. Outside athletics, only two boxers will be part of the Uganda team to Rio.

"I think we have a good team that can better our performance at the London Olympics where we got one gold," athletics federation president Domenic Otuchet said in Kampala.  (see story Uganda to name team)

"This team looks solid enough to bring three medals, but to better London Olympics, one of them has to be gold." 

“We will pick the best depending on performance,” Uganda athletics chief Otuchet said early this year.

Athletes who have qualified

Women 6: Winnie Nanyondo (800m), Halima Nakaayi (800m) Stella Chesang (5,000m), Peruth Chemutai (3000mSC), Juliet Chekwel (10000m) and Adero Nyakesi (marathon)

Men marathon 7: Stephen Kiprotich, Solomon Munyo Mutai, Robert Chemonges, Kiprop Jackson, Abraham Kiplimo, Alex Cheskit and Moses Kipsiro.

Men other events 8: Joshua Cheptgei (10000m and 5000m), Timothy Toroitich (10,000m), Phillip Kipyeko ( 5,000m), Ronald Musagala (1,500m) and Benjamin Kiplagat (3,000m SC), Jacob Kiplimo (5,000m), Moses Kurong (10000m), Ayeko (10000m)

Tweets about #UgAthleticsChamps

FULL RESULTS OF THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

National Champs 2016 - Full Results by The Independent Magazine on Scribd

******

Countdown starts

The countdown to Rio 2016 has started. 

On Monday, the Olympic Games Rio 2016 Official Theme-Music video was released. Alma e Coração - Thiaguinho and Projota.

DOWNLOAD FULL SCHEDULE BELOW

2016 Rio Olympic Schedule by jadwongscribd

Uganda to name Olympic track and field team this week

Mutai (left) and Kiprotich (right) favourites to get two of
Uganda's three marathon places in Rio

31 DAYS TO GO: The national athletics championships Wednesday July 6 and Thursday 7 will offer Uganda's home-based runners a final chance to book a ticket to the Rio Olympics that start on August 5, 2016. 

The national championships at Mandela Stadium Namboole, were originally scheduled for July 15, but have had to be brought back in order to beat the Olympic qualification deadline of July 11. (see schedule bottom)

Uganda will next month send her biggest contingent of track and field athletes to an Olympics. Up to 20 athletes have met the Olympic qualifying team, but with quotas set for all races, Uganda's team will feature at least 16 - three better than Seoul 1988.

"I think we have a good team that can better our performance at the London Olympics where we got one gold," athletics federation president Domenic Otuchet said in Kampala. 

"This team looks solid enough to bring three medals, but to better London Olympics, one of them has to be gold." 

The toughest competition has been in the marathon, where eight athletes hit the qualifying mark - 7 men and 1 woman. Country's can field a maximum of 3 athletes per event.

Favorite to lead the marathon team is Olympic Champion Stephen Kiprotich.

Others - not in any particular ranking are - Solomon Munyo Mutai, Kiprop Jackson, Robert Chemonges, Abraham Kiplimo, Alex Cheskit and Moses Kipsiro. Uganda will send a team of 4 marathoners, three men and one woman - Adero Nyakesi. 

“We will pick the best depending on performance,” Uganda athletics chief Otuchet said early this year.

Kiprotich has run 2:07:46 and 2:06:33 in the Tokyo marathon (FULL STORY CLICK) where he finished 4th early this year. Chesakit has run 2:13:06, Mutai 2:10:42, Kiprop 2:15:16, Kiplimo has a best time of 2:09:23 in 2014 and Kipsiro clocked 2:15:48.

File photo of Chesang on way to World Mountain title

There will also be 4 in the other long distance races, the 10000m and 5000m.

The long distances will have; Juliet Chekwel (10000m), Joshua Cheptgei (10000m and 5000m), Timothy Toroitich (10000m),  Moses Kurong (10000m)

Others are Phillip Kipyeko ( 5000m), Jacob Kiplimo (5000m) and World Mountain running champion Stella Chesang (5000m).

Benjamin Kiplagat and Jacob Araptany, joined by Peruth Chemutai will feature in the 3000m Steeplechse, Ronald Musagala in the 1,500m and Winnie Nanyondo in the 800m, will be the fifth woman on the team.

Overall, Uganda is expected to field 18 - 16 athletes at least, and two boxers. The team will be named after the national trials.

Uganda’s track and field team at the last Olympics in London was the biggest (11 out of 15) since Seoul 1988 when we had 13.  Kiprotich’s gold in London 2012, was the first Olympic medal since Davis Kamoga’s bronze in 1992 and one of only two gold Uganda has won at the games. The first gold was by Akii Bua in 1972, one of only 7 medals Uganda has won at Olympics track and field.



"Thank God, we will certainly have bigger numbers this time. The numbers will however mean nothing if we do not return with medals," said Otuchet.

Otuchet said team preparations are in advanced stage, with the team coached by veteran coach Benjamin Longirosi in camp in Bukwo. Taking care of the camp is sports administrator Peter Chelangat and chaperon Grace Chesang.

Only Kiprotich and Nyakisi are not yet in, having asked to train with their international colleagues in Kenya.

Athletes who have qualified
Women 5: Winnie Nanyondo (800m), Stella Chesang (5,000m), Peruth Chemutai (3000mSC), Juliet Chekwel (10000m) and Adero Nyakesi (marathon)

Men marathon 7: Stephen Kiprotich, Solomon Munyo Mutai, Robert Chemonges, Kiprop Jackson, Abraham Kiplimo, Alex Cheskit and Moses Kipsiro.

Men other events 7: Joshua Cheptgei (10000m and 5000m), Timothy Toroitich (10,000m), Phillip Kipyeko ( 5,000m), Ronald Musagala (1,500m) and Benjamin Kiplagat (3,000m SC), Jacob Kiplimo (5,000m), Moses Kurong (10000m)

Champs Prog 2016 by jadwongscribd on Scribd

ALL set for start in next hour. #Uganda #Athletics Championship Mandela Stadium, Namboole #RoadToRio #RioOlympics pic.twitter.com/VopgdmKPWu

— Louis Jadwong (@Jadwong) July 6, 2016

We on. First race,1500m semis won by Abu Mayanja of UWA 3:56.7 #Uganda #Athletics Championship #RoadToRio pic.twitter.com/Mzmxylt3sz

— Louis Jadwong (@Jadwong) July 6, 2016

3000m Steeplechase women final won by Annet Chebet 10:56.03. (Qual.time 9:45.00) #UgAthleticsChamps #RoadToRio pic.twitter.com/QEDrO9E1AG

— Louis Jadwong (@Jadwong) July 6, 2016

Tweets about #UgAthleticsChamps



******

Countdown starts

The countdown to Rio 2016 has started. 

On Monday, the Olympic Games Rio 2016 Official Theme-Music video was released. Alma e Coração - Thiaguinho and Projota.

DOWNLOAD FULL SCHEDULE BELOW

2016 Rio Olympic Schedule by jadwongscribd