Ace athlete tips Rwanda

RWANDA has the talent to rival Kenya in athletics according to Benjamin Kipkoech Limo, IAAF’s ambassador at Sunday’s Kigali International Marathon. The 36-year-old, who ran in Saturday’s 5km run for fun race alongside Dieudonné Disi, reserved special praise for the 12-year-old winner Joseph Hakizimana.

Monday, May 24, 2010
Benjamin Limo believes Rwanda has the talent to make a name for itself in the athletics world

RWANDA has the talent to rival Kenya in athletics according to Benjamin Kipkoech Limo, IAAF’s ambassador at Sunday’s Kigali International Marathon.

The 36-year-old, who ran in Saturday’s 5km run for fun race alongside Dieudonné Disi, reserved special praise for the 12-year-old winner Joseph Hakizimana.

"There is talent in this country to rival Kenya if these youngsters are nurtured well.”

"One area the local athletics federation (RAF) has to concentrate on is identifying talented youngsters and then closely following them up,” he added.

The Kenyan ace also urged RAF to increase on the number of local competitions.

"In Kenya, there are over one million athletes, but I have been told that Rwanda has less than 1000 athletes which is quite a small number,” the former World Cross Country champion noted.

Limo’s Career Highlights
2006 Commonwealth Games 5000m bronze medal
2005 IAAF World 5000m Champion
2003 IAAF World Cross Country 4k bronze medal
2002 Commonwealth Games 5000m silver medal
2001 IAAF World Cross Country 4k bronze medal
1999 IAAF World T&F Championships 5000m silver medal
1999 IAAF World Cross Country 4k Champion

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