National X-Country Championship

Men 12km
1. Dieudonne Disi 37:31:60
2. Jean Baptista Simuceka 37:32:86
3. Gervais Hakizimana 37:41:82

Women 8km
1. Claudette Mukasakindi 27:19:40
2. Epiphanie Nyirabarame 28:37:15
3. Genessi Nyirahabimana 28:45:96

Women Junior 6km
1. Adeline Musabyeyezu 21:24
2. Jackline Murekatete 21:26
3. Jean D’Arc Mukakigeri 21:40

Dieudonne Disi won the trials event for the World Cross Country Championship held at Kigali Golf Club course yesterday.

Disi, 28 clocked 37:31:60 to come ahead of Jean Baptista Simuceka, who used 37:32:86 to finish in second position. Gervais Hakizimana finished third in 37:41:82.

However, Disi was using this race to not to win a place on the national team for the world championship but to put himself in good shape ahead of the Paris Marathon due on April 5.

Claudette Mukasakindi won the women 8km category after clocking 27:19:40 beating her more experienced rival Epiphanie Nyirabarame into second in 28:37:15. Genesse Nyirahabimana clocked 38:45:96 to finish third.

In the women junior category, Adeline Musabyeyezu won the 6km race in a time of 21:24 while Jackline Murekatete came second in 21:26 and Jean d’Arc Mukakigeri finished in third position after clocking 21:40.

However, the local athletics federation were reluctant to name the final squad which will head to Amman, Jordan for the World Cross Country championship slated for on March 28.

"We are naming the team soon but right now, we are waiting to see how much money the Ministry (of Sports) will offer to the team’s trip to Amman before naming the final squad,” RAF Secretary General Appolinaire Munyangoga said.

Rwanda will be represented by a team of 12 runners, five senior boys, two senior girls and five junior girls.

Disi rules out Amman participation

Meanwhile, the country’s long distance runner Dieudonne Disi has ruled himself out from participating in this year’s World Cross Country Championship in Amman despite being assured an automatic place on the national team.

Disi told Times Sport on Friday that he is concentrating on full marathon and would not participate in the Amman event.

"I will not participate in the Amman world event as I’m preparing to take in the Paris Marathon on April 5.

"I have shifted my focus to full marathon and I am doing everything possible to keep myself in good shape ahead of the World Athletics Championship due in Berlin, Germany in August this year,” Disi said.

Disi is expected to relocate to Kenya mid this month to further his preparations for the World Athletics Championship.

Ends