Kampala — It's a tactical move. Ugandan marathoners won't step in Berlin until August 19. The rest of the team leaves for Berlin, Germany tonight to compete in the 12th IAAF World Championships.But marathoners Jane Suuto, Nicholas Kiprono, Amos Masai and Simon Rugut will stay behind and train for an extra week. "My race is on 23rd and I was worried of staying long in Berlin before competing. Thank God our travel has been extended," Suuto, the only female athlete on Uganda's 12-man team, said.
The local athletics governing body had earlier set next Monday as the departure date for the final batch of runners but had to push it by a day for the good of the marathoners.
"I couldn't imagine spending a week in Germany eating their food. My body system reacts so badly to oily and I guess that's what will be served anyway," noted Suuto (photo).
"But now I have no excuse since we shall get there only four days to my race."
Suuto, the national marathon record holder, is currently training in the high-altitude area of Iten, Kenya together with his three male teammates.
If they were to travel today or sometime this week, the marathoners would definitely struggle to train in the low-altitude Berlin. They will now depart August 18 and reach a day later. The men's marathon is due August 22.
ShareThis