US based athlete Julius Mutekanga and Janet Achola also failed to make it to the finals in their respective events at the on-going London Olympics.
Mutekanga finished fifth in heat 7 of the 800m race which was won by Duare Solomon of the US. The Ugandan athlete started well in the first lap where he maintained second position, but run out of steam in the final 100m.
Janet Achola was next to fail to qualify for the women’s 1500m finals after coming in 11th place in heat 4, which also saw Ethiopian star runner Tirunesh Dibaba fail to qualify after pulling a hamstring injury. Dibaba had won gold in the 10,000m final a few days ago.
On Sunday night in the 3000m steeplechase final, Uganda’s only athlete to qualify for a final Benjamin Kiplagat was unfortunately disqualified. Kenya’s Ezekiel Kemboi went on to win the race in a time of 8:18.1
Uganda’s list of athletes who have joined the ‘tourist’s’ list now include; Edwin Ekiring (badminton), Charles Ssekyeya (Weightlifting), Ganzi Mugula, Jamila Lunkuse (Swimming), Jacob Araptany, Benjamin Kiplagat, Dorcus Inzikuru, Janet Achola, Thomas Ayeko and Jane Suuto.
Commonwealth double gold medalist Moses Kipsiro who finished 10th in the 10,000m final on Sunday night will now focus on the 5,000m, while the other Ugandans yet to get to action include; Stephen Kiprotich (Marathon), Geoffrey Kusuro (5,000m) and Abraham Kiplimo (5,000m).
