National Cross Country trials1. E. Sebahire [APR] 32:34:262. C. Ndayikengurukiye [Kamonyi] 32:38:413. JMV Uwajeneza [NAS] 32:43:154. JB Simuceka [APR] 32:45:705. F. Ntirenganya[Police] [32:48:41]6. A. Nizeyimana [Kamonyi] 32:48:38Veteran Eric Sebahire led a tight group of runners from start to finish in the final national cross country trials held on Friday at Kigali Golf Club in Nyarutarama.The competition was a preselection exercise for the final team that will represent Rwanda at the World Cross Country Championships due in Poland in March.Sebahire, who features for APR Athletics Club, clocked 32:34:26 to finish ahead of the Kamonyi’s Cyriaque Ndayikengurukiye, who clocked 32:38:41. The New Athletic Club runner Jean Marie Vianney Uwajeneza finished in third position.APR’s Jean Baptista Simuceka, Police’s Felix Ntirenganya and Alexis Nizeyimana rounded up the first six places that were up for grabs.Robert Kajuga failed to compete after he failed to recover from a hip injury he sustained two days before the race. Head coach Eric Karasira told Times Sport that the technical committee will meet to decide whether he (Kajuga) should be added to the team. Chances of the SEC academy runner being picked in the final squad are higher given that he is not only one of the best runners in the country but he has also won the previous three national cross country championship trials.Karasira also confirmed that the team will start residential training on February 1 in high altitude area of Gicumbi where they will spend one and half months.Last year, Rwanda missed out on the world event due to visa hitches. In 2011, Rwanda athletics team displayed poor show in the IAAF 39th World Cross Country Championship in Punta Umbria, Spain. Gervais Hakizimana emerged as Rwanda’s best performer after finishing 33rd in the men’s 12km race.The 2013 IAAF World Cross Country Championships will take place on Sunday, March 24 in Bydgoszcz, Poland.
