Ali Chebures (Men) and Mercyline Chelangat (Women) were crowned champions at the 2022 Source of the Nile Half Marathon on Sunday.
The event attracted 155 runners including 32 Female and 123 Male Athletes in Jinja.
After his great display that made him scoop the 2022 National Cross Country Championship held in Tororo early this month, Chebures from Uganda wildlife authaurity extended his dominance to clock 1:02:00.
He was followed by Police’s Chebet Abel (1:02:04) and Geofrey Kusuro 1:02:06 from Uganda wildlife Authaurity respectively.
“I am happy that God has given me yet this chance again to add this race and am humbled to be the winner,” said Chebures.
“Now my focus turns to Commonwealth qualification since my target is to win a gold medal for Uganda in Birmingham come July.”
In the Women category, still 2022 National Cross Country Champion Chelengat from Uganda Police won the Women category in a time of 1:11:52.
She was closely followed by Uganda wildlife Authority’s Sarah Chelengat (1:12:12) as last years winner Chesang Doreen from UWA came third with 1:12:59, beating her own time of 1:13:05 that she posted while winning the race last year.
Chelengat continues to defy odds having given birth after winning for Uganda a bronze medal for Uganda in 2018 commonwealth games in Australia.
“Although I gave birth,” started Chelangat. “I am determined and focussed and that has kept me moving.”
“My performance in the 2020 Olympic games wasnt good but am back and certainly i will compete to win a medal in 2022 Commonwealth games which isnt a dream just because I have done it before.”
The race was also graced by renown long distance runners including the currently world record holder Jacob Kiplimo together with 2010 and 2014 Commonwealth gold medalist Moses Kipsiro.
“This is my race and I have to see the new talent that’s why you saw me following them up to the end. Am hopefully that when we team up, Uganda will have a greatest team ahead of world Championships in Olegon and Commonwealth games in Birmingham,” said Jacob Kiplimo who cheered on the runners.
The federation now turns the focus to the first track and field event on the 2022 national Calendar to be held on 5th March in Nambole.
“Although Namboole is currently under renovation, due to the lact of tatan trucks in the country, government has cleared us to host the first tract and field competition in Nambole for our athletes to qualify for Commonwealth games,” said UAF president Dominc Otuchet.
Source of the Nile Marathon results top ten
Men
85 Chebures Ali UWA 1:02:00
11 Chebet Abel Police 1:02:04
90 Kusuro Geoffrey UWA 1:02:06
108 Kwemoi Andrew Arua 1:02:54
68 Somikwo Ben Prisons 1:03:45
110 Rotich Maxwel Kortex Arua 1:04:18
62 Kiprop Jackson Prisons 1:04:20
88 Kiprotich Levi UWA 1:05:01
66 Musobo Fred Prisons 1:05:27
111 Tungwet Caleb Arua 1:05:29
Women
03 Chelangat Mercyline Police 1:11:52
80 Chelangat Sarah UWA 1:12:12
82 Chesang Doreen UWA 1:12:59
55 Cherop Rispa Prisons 1:13:25
140 Cheptegei Rebecca UPDF 1:13:56
101 Chemos Viola Arua 1:15:39
100 Chelangat Annet Chemengich Arua 1:15:55
102 Cheptegei Nancy Arua 1:17:06
50 Ajok Dorcus Prisons 1:18:50
51 Akiror Sarah Prisons 1:19:43
