Alpha club’s Jacob Araptany believes he should have done better at the regional cross country meet had organisers provided a better a track in Kapchorwa over the weekend.
The 20-year-old finished a distant sixth position after clocking 42:25.9 in the senior men’s 12km at the Boma grounds – now called the Stephen Kiprotich grounds.
“The track was not the best,” Araptany told Kawowo Sports on phone from Kapchorwa.
“We ran through streets and encountered some motorcycles hence losing out on time.” the 3000m steeplechase bronze medallist at the 2011 Africa Junior Championships added.
But that didnot stop Police’s Peter Kibet from winning in a time of 40:21.4 while Alpha’s Nathan Ayeko (41:08.3) and UPDF’s Alex Chesakit (41:10.7) came second and third respectively.
It was a Police show in the junior men’s 8km as trio Alex Cherop (27:02.5), Benson Chebriot (27:03.7) and Mande Abdallah (27:04.7) took the top three positions in pecking order.
The senior women’s 8km were not held after only two of the 30 teams (UPDF and Prisons) had registered runners. UPDF’s Nancy Cheptengei clocked 24:08.2 ahead of Alpha’s Racheal Chebet (24:42.6) and Sipi’s Winnie Chebet (25:46.8) to win the juniors’ 6km race.
At Kabale Sports Club, Canada-based runner Samuel Lutabi failed to adjust to the weather. He missed out on the men’s senior race that was won by Samuel Kasola from Sironko in 42:05.1.
Mbarara Municipality’s Simon Tumuhimbi came second (42:52.3) while last year’s winner Willy Kato (43:20.1) from Kabale settled for third.
REGIONAL CROSS COUNTRY RESULTS
EASTERN REGION
Men
12km
Peter Kibet (Police) 40:21.4
Nathan Ayeko (Alpha) 41:08.3
Alex Chesakit (UPDF) 41:10.7
8km
Alex Cherop (Police) 27:02.5
Benson Chebriot (Police) 27:03.7
Mande Abdallah (Police) 27:04.7
Women
6km
Nancy Cheptengei (UPDF) 24:08.2
Racheal Chebet (Alpha) 24:42.6
Winnie Chebet (Sipi) 25:46.8
WESTERN REGION
Men
8km
Herzon Masape (Sironko) 27:16.3
Fortunate Turihomabuge (Kabale) 29.31.5
Ronald Byoruganda (Kisoro) 30:32.6
12km
Samuel Kasola (Sironko) 42:05.1
Simon Tumuhimbi (Mbarara Municipality) 42:52.3
Willy Kato (Kabale) 43:20.1
Women
6km
Dorothy Akampurira (Kisoro) 24:40.1
Slyvia Tumushabe (Kisoro) 25:33.4
Catherine Nuwasasira (Kisoro) 25:34.0