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Uganda was represented by only ten athletes at the two-day championships that had competitors from six countries in both the U18 and U20 categories.
The Uganda Junior Athletics team managed to pick up a paltry six medals at the Eastern Africa Athletics Championships in Dar-salaam, Tanzania, but Uganda Athletics Federation President Dominic Otucet insists that it is a step in the right direction.
Uganda was represented by only ten athletes at the two-day championships that had competitors from six countries in both the U18 and U20 categories.
According to Otucet, the goal was to give the junior runners an opportunity to have competition especially after some of the team members were ruled out of the World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Bathurst, Australia in February over failure to secure travelling visas.
“For us we are proud of the boys and girls for their achievement at the Eastern Africa games in Dar-es-Salaam,” Otucet told Pulse Sports.
“The goal was never to have them return with golds, but we knew they would do well and we believe they will become great performers for the country.”
“The idea we had was to make sure that they get exposed to international competitions when still young where they can go on and express their talents,” he explained.
“At this age, we do not want to exert pressure on them, because we risk breaking them, but I am sure they have picked up good lessons competing against the Kenyans and Ethiopians in their age groups.”
Rajabu Lomotho showed glimpses of his wealth of talent, with incredible runs in the 100m and 400m races taking silver in both races.
The youngster ran an incredible 10.86 in the 100m race, which is an eighth of a second off the qualification time for the World Championships. He also came second in the 400m race clocking 48.64.
Akello Priscilla took bronze in the 400m race in the U20 category, clocking 58.13, while Vicky Anamu finished fifth in the 100m race with the U20s, but finished fourth in the same race with the U18s.
Felister Chewemoi took silver in the 3000m race with the U18s and was followed by compatriot Benjalin Yeko.
Rotich Silas, one of the three junior athletes who failed to travel to Australia made amends with bronze in the 5000m, leading teammates Feb Chelogoi and Allan Kibet who finished fourth and fifth.
Kenya were overall winners of the championships held at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, collecting 37 medals--24 gold, 10 silver and three bronze--to take the overall title ahead of Zanzibar and Tanzania.
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