KAMPALA - RWANDA finished sixth in the 2014 Africa Cross Country Championship as Kenya bagged 10 gold medals at this year’s edition yesterday at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds in Kampala, Uganda.
Seniors category
Men
1. Barsoton Leonard [Ken] 34:26:12
2. Cornelius Kipruto [Ken] 34:56:45
3. Philemon Rono [Ken] 35:01:88
17. Eric Sebahire [Rwa] 36:34:50
24. Godfrey Rutayisire [Rwa] 37:28:12
34. Joseph Nzirorera [Rwa] 38:34:06
36. Sept Nshumbusho [Rwa] 38:52:24
42. Leonidas Baganizi [Rwa] 40:04:00
43. Noel Hitimana [Rwa] 40:11:35
Women
1. Faith Kipyegon [Ken] 25:33:02
2. Janet Kisa [Ken] 25:41:30
3. Alice Nawowuna [Ken] 25:46:48
23. Clementine Mukandanga [Rwa] 31:18:52
24. Emilienne Muragijimana [Rwa] 31:29:48
25. Blandine Uwamariya [Rwa] 31:46:56
26. Fortuna Manirafasha [Rwa] 32:11:23
Top ten
KAMPALA - RWANDA finished sixth in the 2014 Africa Cross Country Championship as Kenya bagged 10 gold medals at this year’s edition yesterday at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds in Kampala, Uganda. Thirty countries took part in the competition. Rwanda finished behind Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Tanzania in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th positions respectively.
Lack of tactical maneuvers and inexperience denied Rwandan athletes a chance to put up a positive challenge in all the four race categories that were at stake.
It all started in the junior women category where Marthe Yankurije was the best placed Rwandan finishing 27th after clocking 23:04:16 as Kenyan duo of Agnes Jebet and Nancy Nzisa finished first and third respectively. Ethiopia’s Heroye Banat Alemitu won silver. Rwanda emerged 6th in this category.
In the junior men’s race, David Gakuru was the best placed athlete as he finished 28th, clocking 25:28:58. Rwanda also secured sixth position with 124 points to come behind leaders Kenya, Eritrea and Ethiopia who amassed 12, 32 and 54 points respectively.
In senior women’s race, Clémentine Mukandanga finished 23rd, followed by Fortuna Manirafasha while Emilienne Muragijimana and Blandine Uwamariya secured 24th and 25th individual positions.
They were the best-placed Rwandan team as they finished 5th overall with 98 points to come behind Tanzania in fourth, Uganda in third, Ethiopia in second and winners Kenya with 71, 57, 29 and 10 points respectively.
The final race was very competitive as runners from Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia put on a spirited fight for the podium slots.
Kenya secured the top three as Barsoton Leonard, Cornelis Kipruto and Philemon Rono led from start to finish.
Eric Sebahire was the best-placed Rwandan, finishing in a distant 17th position after clocking 37:28:12. Godfrey Rutayisire finished in 24th position in a time of 37:28:12, while Joseph Nzirorera, Sept Nshumbusho and Leonidas Baganizi finished 34th, 36th and 42nd respectively.
Rwanda came sixth in overall team rankings with 97 points while Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia took the podium slots with 10, 37 and 52 points respectively.
In general, Kenya who swept the 2012 edition honours in South Africa repeated history as they won fourteen medals in both individual and team rankings.