Amuria — The task ahead for Boniface Kiprop is as complicated as getting to Amuria District by public transport. The former world junior 10,000m gold medallist is plotting to defend his 10,000m Commonwealth Games medal in New Delhi, India this October but his performance at the weekend's National Cross-country Championships predicts a very bleak future.Making an appearance on the local scene for the first time since 2007, Kiprop's presence caused excitement at Amuria Secondary School.
His clash with Moses Kipsiro was expected to be the highlight of the day. It turned out to be a no-show, instead.
Undoubtedly one of Uganda's most successful runners, Kiprop rubbed shoulders with the leading pack for a small part of the 12km race but started to fade going into the third lap.
As the impressive Kipsiro broke away with Geoffrey Kusuro and Moses Kibet in hot pursuit, Kiprop struggled to keep up with the pace. A few metres inside the fifth of the six-lap race and languishing in 10th position, Kiprop suddenly stopped running. "Someone stepped my foot in the opening lap. I am feeling lots of pain," a disappointed Kiprop said as he walked off the running course, watching his colleagues raise the pace.
Whereas finishing the race would have kept Kiprop within touching distance of a slot on the national team, his decision to drop out erased any chance of him competing at next month's World Cross-country Championships in Poland. " It's never easy making a comeback," Kiprop's local manager Godfrey Nuwagaba said. "I think with more training, he can compete at the top."
Meanwhile, with Kipsiro easily winning the senior men's race and Moses Kibet taking gold in the junior category, Standard Athletics Club took the overall title for the fourth time running.
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