Men’ 5000m final – 9:30pm SS GOLD
Ever since Davis Kamoga’s heroics in the men’s final of the 400m in Atlanta 16-years ago, Uganda has always returned home empty handed. From Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 and the recent Beijing 2008, it has been the same story of medal elusion. Four years ago at the Bird’s Nest Stadium, long distance runner came close to the podium, finishing fourth behind current world and Olympic record holder Ethiopian Kenenisa Bekele along with Kenyan pair Elluid Kipchoge and Edwin Cheruyiot Soi.
The Commonwealth double gold medalist carried on the hopes of an Olympic medal to London and is the country’s top prospect. After finishing a disappointing tenth position in the 1000m final last Saturday, he will hope to end Uganda’s never ending but seemingly expected misery at the London Games when he runs at the 5000m final on Saturday night at the Olympic stadium.
Kipsiro finished seventh in heat 2 of the 12 and half lap race on Wednesday, just after leading the pack to the last 1000m. He will have to polish his final kicker if he is to enter the medal bracket. And with Bekele out, his main challenge will be home boy Mo Farah, who took the 10000m gold. Farah’s training partner American Rupp Galen, who settled for silver, is another opponent not forgetting USA’s Bernard Lagat, a silver medalist at the 2009 Berlin World Athletics Championships.
Having hinted that it could be his last appearance on track, Kipsiro aims to finish in style and earn the country her seventh Olympic medal since Rome 1956. Uganda’s fortunes in London were already hurt with 13 of the 15 athletes already out. All fingers will be kept crossed as the 26-year old seeks to meet the vision of 35 million Ugandans.