Kenya-based middle-distance runner, James Sugira will captain the national junior team at the forthcoming CAA African Junior Athletics Championships scheduled for March 4-8 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The development was confirmed by the Rwanda Athletics Federation (Raf) technical director, Jean Pierre Ndacyayisenga on Monday. The six-athlete team to represent the country includes; three boys and three girls.

The five other athletes, who will link up with Sugira in Kenya on the way to Ethiopia, started residential training camp on Saturday. They reside at La Bonne Esperance, Kicukiro and train at Amahoro stadium.

 Sugira is training at the IAAF Eldoret High Performance Center in Kenya on a one-year scholarship programme.

According to Ndacyayisenga, this is the first time that Rwanda has qualified to enter a big number (6) of athletes at the junior continental meet.

Former Ruhango athletics club runner, Sugira will also be looking to improve on his personal best 3:47:28 in 1500m which he registered in last year’s Nanjing Youth Olympic Games as well as fighting to become the first Rwandan to win a medal at the event.

The 12th edition of the continental meet will attract athletes from over 30 African countries. Mauritius hosted the 11th edition in 2013 and was dominated by Ethiopia, Nigeria and Kenyan.