At a time when many had written her off, Dorcus Inzikuru won the 3000m steeplechase under the Olympics qualifying A standard at the German Bottrop Gala to make it to the London Games. Having struggled all the way after giving birth to Emmanuel Munguci, the Arua Gazelle beat odds and secured a ticket to her second Olympics, after finishing 24th overall in the 5000m in Athens 2004.
Today, she will line up alongside 13 other athletes in heat three of the water jump race at the Stratford Olympic Stadium this afternoon (2PM Ugandan time). Although many harbour hopes in the 30-year-old but she does not expect any miracles. “I will do my best and we’ll see what happens in the finals” the 2006 Commonwealth Games gold medalist told Daily Monitor’s Sande Bashaija.
She will face off with Russian Yuliya Zaripova and Kenyan Mercy Njoroge Wanjiku. The former holds the fastest time in 2011, 9:07.03 which earned her gold at the World Athletics Championships in Daegu. Zaripova also took silver in Berlin three years ago. Njoroge is a silver medalist at the Dehli Commonwealth Games two years ago. It is a shame that many will celebrate her victory yet they had befallen her during the difficult times.
PROFILE Dorcus Inzikuru
Born: 2/2/1982
Honours (3000m steeplechase): Gold medalist (2005 World Athletics Championships Helsinki)
Gold at the 2006 Commonwealth Games Melbourne.
Season best: 9:30.95
Personal best: 9:15.04