Rwanda eye first medal in Africa’s senior athletics championship

Rwanda Athletics Federation (RAF) is targeting to win the country’s first medal in the 17th Africa senior championship scheduled for July 28-August 1 in Nairobi, Kenya.

Monday, May 10, 2010
Dieudonne Disi reacts after crossing the finishing line in a previous even in France. (File photo)

Rwanda Athletics Federation (RAF) is targeting to win the country’s first medal in the 17th Africa senior championship scheduled for July 28-August 1 in Nairobi, Kenya.

According to the federation president Jean Paul Munyadamutsa, they (RAF) have been working closely with the athletes with potential to win a medal since last year and are planning to continue to monitoring them at this month’s inter-club.

Rwanda will be making its 16th appearance in the competition which is expected to attract up to 1300 athletes from 54 countries.

"We have alerted the athletes to start looking for minimums as we continue to prepare for the championship. Our target is to win something this year,” said the official.

According to the federation technical director Emmanuel Murenzi, female athletes are looking for the minimum of 2.06.00 while their male counterparts should have 1.47.30 for 800m, 4.21.00 and 3.39.00 for 1500m, 16.18.00; 13.30.00 for 5000m as well as 35.20.00 and 28.38.00 respectively for 10.000m.

Some of the top athletes on the Nairobi-bound team include Dieudonne Disi, Slyvain Rukundo, Jean Baptist Simuceka, Gervain Hakizimana, Evariste Nzabonimaba, Eric Sebahire, and Godfrey Rutayisire males), Claudette Mukasakindi, Epiphany Nyirabarame, Francine Ingabire, and Angeline Nyiransabimana (females).

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