RWANDA athletics federation has picked seven athletes to start preparations ahead of the 20th IAAF World Half Marathon Championships due in Kavarna, Bulgaria.The anniversary edition of the contest will take place on October 6, and is jointly organised by IAAF, the Bulgarian Athletic Federation and the Kavarna Municipality.The local federation’s Executive Secretary Raymond Bananeza said the seven athletes were picked following their performances in the half marathon competition staged over the weekend at Nyarutarama tennis club. “Seven athletes are going to start residential camp before the end of this week and four will be picked to represent Team Rwanda at the world championships,” noted Bananeza.Olympian Robert Kajuga won the half marathon trials after clocking 56.54.76 with Cyriaque Ndayikengurukiye from Kamonyi settling for the second position in a time of 57.80.16.Athletes from 50 countries have registered for the World Half Marathon. Thirty of the athletes who registered for the World Championships, participated in the marathon at the London 2012 Olympics. In 2010, Dieudonné Disi, Gervais Hakizimana, Sylvain Rukundo, Alexis Nizeyimana and Angeline Nyiransabimana represented the country when the event was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.Disi steered Rwanda to sixth overall position after clocking 1.03.03 to pocket $3000 for his effort while Rwanda men’s team walked away with the same amount for finishing sixth overall.The next 2014 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships will take place in Denmark’s capital Copenhagen.Selected athletes: Robert, Kajuga (SEC), Cyriaque Ndayikengurukiye (Kamonyi), Jean Marie Vianney Uwajeneza (NAS), Slyvain Rukundo (Police), Alexis Nizeyimana (Kamonyi), Godfrey Rutayisire (APR), Retien Ntawuyirushintego (RAS).
