Athletes step up preps ahead of world meet

THE national men’s athletic team has spent the past three weeks in intensive training in Gicumbi, Northern Province in preparations for the IAAF World Road Running championships due in Karvana, Bulgaria on October 6.Local lead athlete Robert Kajuga, who set a personal best time of 27:56.67 to finish 14th at the London Olympics 10,000m final, is aiming to leave a mark on the forthcoming world meet. Seven athletes are in camp but only four will make the final team.He told Times Sport yesterday by phone from Gicumbi, “We have spent close to three weeks training here, and we are happy with the progress so far.”“I am confident we can challenge the world’s best. It may sound impossible to achieve, but we will head to Bulgaria as competitors,” added Kajuga.The four-man team, which will depart for Karvana on October 3, is being handled by trainer Jean Pierre Ndacyayisenga with assistance from and former Olympian Mathias Ntawurikura.Rwanda will be hoping to improve on the sixth place finished attained two years ago in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.In 2010, Dieudonné Disi, Gervais Hakizimana, Sylvain Rukundo, Alexis Nizeyimana and one female, Angeline Nyiransabimana were part of the team which took part in the event.Disi steered Rwanda to sixth overall position in the 10,000m after clocking 1.03.03 to pocket $3000, while Rwanda men’s team walked away with the same amount for finishing sixth overall.Athletes in camp:Robert Kajuga, Cyriaque Ndayikengurukiye, Jean Marie Vianney Uwajeneza, Slyvain Rukundo, Alexis Nizeyimana, Godfrey Rutayisire and Retien Ntawuyirushintego.

Sports

Athletes step up preps ahead of world meet