At last year’s World Athletics Championships in Russian Moscow, Juliet Chekwel was hardly noticed as she broke Uganda’s record in the women’s 10000m race.
A year on, Chekwel set a new personal best time of 15min and 43.47 seconds in 5000m over the weekend at the Carquefou International Track Meeting in France.
Speaking from France after the race, Chekwel said she could have done better than that had her pace been consistent.
“The first pacer did poorly running 3:45 in the first 1000m. I had to push harder and managed to run inside the targeted time of 9:14,” the Ugandan runner said, who pitched camp in the Run – Fast Camp in Iten en-route to France, said.
“I could have done better than that had my pace been consistent,” she said. “The first pacer did poorly running 3:45 in the first 1000m. I had to push harder and managed to run inside the targeted time of 9:14,” she added.
However, she finished second in the race behind eventual winner home girl Christine Bardelle who clocked 15:15.27. Ethiopians Shito Wudessa (15:50.84) came third while Marta Tigabea finished fourth (15:15.57).
Chekwel’s manager Tom Payne said that was a good start and anticipates a huge improvement before the Glasgow Commonwealth Games. “With the combination of training with good training partners back in Iten, we have hope of Juliet producing good results soon,” the British manager said.
WOMEN
CARQUEFOU INTERNATIONAL TRACK MEETING
5000m
1. Christine Bardelle 15.27.30
2. Juliet Chekwel (UGA) 15.43.47
3. Shito Wudessa (eth) 15.50.84.7