Fifty top guns have confirmed entry into the National Cross Country Championships due to take place on February 11, 2012 at the Jinja Chairman’s' Park, Jinja Town.
Uganda Athletics Federation has issued strict instructions for all runners including the elite athletes to appear in the championships or they risk missing an opportunity to represent the country.
Topping the list of entries is World Cross Country bronze medalist and Commonwealth Games double gold champion, Moses Kipsiro, who will be defending the national title he won at the same venue last year.
Former 3000m steeplechase champion, Dorcus Inzikuru, who will be gunning for selection on the national team, will also be in Jinja. Inzikuru while in Jinja last year missed out on the team to Punta Umbria 2011 World Cross Country Championship in Spain.
The list of international stars also include 2010 World Cross Country bronze medal winning team comprising Annet Negesa who will be defending the national crown she won last year at the same venue, Rebecca Cheptegei, Viola Chemos, Linnet Chebet and Mercy Chebet. The men are World Mountain bronze medalist Geoffrey Kusuro, World Junior 3000m steeplechase bronze medalist Jacob Araptany, 2009 World Cross Country bronze medalist Moses Kibet and Benjamin Kiplagat, the 3000m steeplechase National Record holder and 2011World Cross Country silver medalist Thomas Ayeko among others.
The National Cross Country Championship which is being hosted in Jinja for the second time will be used to select a national squad of 30 athletes to enter a residential camp. The squad while in camp will later be subjected to final selection of 24 to represent the country at the Africa Cross Country Championships due in Cape Town, South Africa on March 18, 2012.
This year's event is expected to be tough and unpredictable due to the attention and interest athletes accorded to it in terms of preparations. The majority of Ugandan runners have been camping in Kenyan residential training hubs in Eldoret and Iten while many others also went "underground" in high altitude training camps in Kween, Bukwo and Kapchorwa districts.
