A couple of top athletes are set to face off at the National Cross Country Championship in Tororo on Saturday, February 12.
The contenders in the Women’s category for the national gong include 2020 Tokyo 3000m steeplechase Olympian Peruth Chemutai from Uganda police, Uganda wildlife authaurity duo of Sarah Chelengat the 5000m national record holder and U20 5000m bronze medalist Chesang Prisca.
These will battle for the nation honors and places for the Africa cross country championships due March this year in Mozambique in (10km).
Other contenders in the ladies category include 2019 World cross country 4th finisher Chebet Racheal Zena (Prisons), Olympian Mercyline Chelengat, Chebet Scarlet and Chemisto Janat among others.
In the senior mens category, (10km) Defending Champion Hosea Kiplangat (prisons), Marathon record holder Felix Chemonges, Olympian Stephen Kissa and 2019 Standard Chartered Nairobi Half Marathon champion Andrew Kwemoi (Arua) among many other contenders.
This year’s championship is expected to attract runners from neighbouring countries like Djibouti, Tanzania and South Sudan.
This will be the first championship on the National calendar that will see the top seeds represent Uganda at various championships including the 22nd Africa Senior Championships in June, U20 World Championships in August among others.
The mens senior race (10km) has registered the biggest number of 183 entries followed by U20 men (8km) 135, U20 women (6km) 84 and senior women (10km) 47 competitors respectively.
The championship has so far attracted over 500 runners who will be battling for the team(club), individual and national honors inclusive of prize money.
The National cross country Championship has attracted new comers which include Namayingo District, Bugweri District, Lyantonde District, Busia District, and clubs like Hared, Petroleum, UCU, Gulu university among others.
Because of the heavy competition shedule and importance of the forthcoming international engagements, the federation’s recent Annual General Assembly approved the 2022 budget with an Injection of 800M towards running national competitions and 2.5 billion shillings for international engagements out of the 5 billion shillings to be sank in the entire seasonal activities.
