Six local clubs are set to compete in this year’s national Inter-club Athletics Championships set for tomorrow at Amahoro national stadium. The Rwanda Athletics Federation’s Secretary General Johnson Rukundo said, “Six clubs will compete in the national club championships where the World Junior Championships, Commonwealth Games and African championships teams will be selected.” The event is also part of preparations for next month’s Africa Cross country Championships scheduled to take place in Kampala, Uganda. The six clubs that have confirmed participation include; APR Athletics Club, Nyamasheke, Rwamagana, Rubavu-based Vision Jeunesse, Gicumbi-based Mountain Classic and SEC Academy. According to officials in the Rwanda Athletics Federations (Raf), the competition will also help in supporting local clubs to test their athletes ahead of future international competitions. The athletics federation president Jean Damascene Nkezabo said the number of local competitions will be increased in all provinces around the country. “Early preparations in form of competitions are necessary if we are to produce athletes to compete in international events like the Commonwealth games,” he added. The elite athletes including Claudette Mukasakindi and Jean Baptiste Simukeka will not compete this weekend. Both are currently in Italy for enhanced training. Athletes will compete in both the male and female categories in several events including 100m, 200m, 800m, 1500m, 5000m and 10000m.
