Athletes go through training in the London hills in Kween in preparation for a national marathon and the London Olympics
The Uganda Athletes Federation (UAF) has established a permanent training camp for long distance runners in Kween district.
The training area, popularly known as London Hills, is located in a section of the Mt. Elgon game reserve.
According to UAF publicity secretary Namayo Mawerere, the athletes will be trained in high altitude running. He said the athletes will be training at about 2400ft above sea level.
“We just want to ensure that at the end of training our athletes can sustain marathon competitions,” Mawerere noted.
He added that so far 25 participants had reported to undergo the one month training.
“These include some of the finest runners in the country,” Mawerere said on Monday. He said the athletes will participate in the National Cross Country Championships scheduled for Jinja on February 11.
“From among them we shall also pick a team for the African Cross Country Championships in Cape town, South Africa due in March among others,” he observed.
Mawerere further said the training also caters for the Olympic Games 2012 due in London in the summer.
Benjamin Longiros, the athletes coach said the participants morale was high as the season nears. Those in camp include Peter Kibet, Jacob Araptany, David Emong and Annet Chebet.
Others are Stella Chesang, Patrick Cherutwo, and Catherine Lometo among others.
Female athletes go through training in the London hills in Kween in preparation for a national marathon and the London Olympics
Meanwhile, former World Athletics and World Junior silver medallist Boniface Kiprop is contemplating returning to active athletics and at least to win an Olympic medal.
It is this urge that forced him to call coach Ronnie Kasirye informing him that he was not yet done and they should expect him to be part of the competitors fighting for the top awards in Jinja this Saturday.
Kiprop was one of Uganda’s long distance top performers, having finished fourth in the Athens 2004 Olympic Games and in the same position in the Helsinki 2007 World championships.
By Olandason Wanyama and Norman Katende, The New Vision
