It was all action as Viola Chemos and Michael Cherop emerged new champions of the 2012 National Mountain Running Championships hosted in the hills of Mountain Elgon in Kapchorwa last weekend.
The two upcoming runners had the day to smile in the absence of former champions, Geoffrey Kusuro and Stephen Kiprotich who are away on national duty at the London Olympics.
Kusuro said he had prepared to challenge Kiprotich, but was disappointed he was not present.
According to the Uganda Athletics Federation (UAF) spokesman Namayo Mawerere, a total of UGX 1m prize money was awarded to the top 10 finishers in both men and women categories.
The 106 men were flagged off uphill at Towey point, 16km to Kapchorwa town but by half way mark, the top six finishers led by Michael Cherop were in the front pack.
However, Cherop and Kurong broke off from the rest, one kilometer away to the finish. Out of 29 women only 24 managed to finish the 8.8km race with national title between Chemos who eventually emerged champion and Stella Chesang after a sprint that was settled by 2 micro seconds.
The Uganda Athletics Federation designed the route similar to what is designed for the World Mountain Championship due in Italy in September 2012.
