For two successive months, Winnie Nanyondo proved she was Uganda’s most in-form runner ahead of the Commonwealth Games.
Recently, the runner broke the national 800m record with a third successive personal best time of 1:58.63 as she finished third at the tenth IAAF Diamond League (DL) Meet in Monaco on July 18.
Going by the form, there are eminent levels of optimism her spikes when she lines up lane two of the first round heat 2 at the Hampden Park on Wednesday afternoon.
“The new record has made me gain more belief in myself and hopefully a medal will come too in Glasgow but right now I can’t say I will bring gold, silver or bronze.” Nanyondo, 20, said before leaving for the Games.
Despite erasing Annet Negesa’s previous record of 1:59.08 set in Dutch city Hengelo two years ago, her coach Raphael Kasaija believes she can still break the national record in Glasgow.
“After watching her race in Monaco, she needs to improve on a few areas and I am confident she will run a faster time in Glasgow,” he said.
With her only championship experience coming in the form of the 2012 World Juniors, Nanyondo could be venturing into unfamiliar waters but should be one of the top performers in tonight’s preliminary rounds.
Having run the third best individual world lead time this year, Nanyondo will face off with 2008 silver Olympic Kenyan Janeth Jepkosgei, who came fourth in Monaco.
NANYONDO AT A GLANCE
Date of birth: August 23, 1993
Major races: 800m, 1500m
Personal best: 1:58.63 (800m), 4:22.62 (1500m)
Honours: 2014 World University Cross-Country (Gold), 2014 National 400m champion
2014 COMMONWEALTH GAMES
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