Uganda: Defiant Inzikuru Hopes to Excel in South Korea

Sande Bashaija

9 June 2011

For almost four years now, Dorcus Inzikuru has not competed at a high profile championship. But after a difficult spell, Inzikuru is defiant she will make the World Athletics Championships due August 24 to September 4 in Daegu, South Korea and try to reclaim the steeplechase gold she won in 2005.

“I am pushing so hard to qualify and represent Uganda in South Korea,” Inzikuru told Daily Monitor on phone yesterday.

Inzikuru became the first Ugandan to win World Championships gold when she ruled the 3000m steeplechase field at the 2005 edition in Helsinki, Finland.

She also clinched gold at the 2006 Commonwealth Games. She, however, gave birth in 2007, missing out on the 2008 Olympic Games. The 29-year-old runner has since struggled to get back to her top form but is now in Italy training and competing as a build-up for the South Korea showpiece.

“It has been tough for me to run against the world’s best but it is a matter of time,” Inzikuru said after winning steeplechase at the Coppa Italia meet in 9:53.02 minutes at the weekend.

Although her time was short of the qualifying mark, the Arua Gazelle has more competitions lined up in weeks to come. “I was scheduled to compete in a 5000m race last week but the competition was called off because of too much rain,” she added. “The other week, I won a 5km road race and my speed is improving.”

Big number

Ten athletes have already secured tickets to South Korea, among them Moses Kipsiro, Stephen Kiproitich and fast-rising Annet Negesa.

A few more are expected to hit the qualifying mark before August and competition for places on the final team will undoubtedly be very stiff. But Uganda Athletics Federation (UAF) has promised to try and take a big number of runners to Daegu.

“The qualifying standards are very high so if a runner makes the grade they deserve to travel,” UAF administrator Timothy Masaba said on Tuesday. “We hope Inzikuru qualifies soon and concentrates on training for the championships,” he added. “She will be competing again this weekend. We wait and see how she performs.”

At 29, this could be Inzikuru’s final chance to impress at the world stage on the track. She has hinted on switching to marathon in the near future and this year is likely to be her last on the track.

Uganda has not won a World Championships medal since 2007 when Kipsiro snatched bronze in Osaka.

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