Rwanda Athletics Federation (RAF) has selected the five top athletes in the country who will starts early preparations for the 2012 London Olympics.

The chosen athletes consist mostly of long and middle distance runners; however, there are efforts to add in a few short distance runners.

While confirming the names of the five athletes, RAF president, Jean Paul Munyandamutsa said that the essence of starting early preparation is to seek better performances.

"It is good to try targeting better times even in local competitions, so we’re going to encourage the athletes to give their best win every event they compete in,” said Munyandamutsa.

The athletes were selected after the 2009 season ending national championship (Rendezvous National) two weeks ago.

The selected athletes include Dieudonne Disi (5.000 and 10.000m), Sylvain Rukundo (5.000 and 10.000m), Jean Baptist Simuceka (5.000 and 10.000m), Claudette Mukasakindi (5.000 and 10.000m) and Godfrey Rutayisire (800 and 1500m).

Disi has ready started a four-months training camp in Eldoret, Kenya. He is targeting to hit the 2:06:00 mark when the next World Marathon championship gets underway, first in Paris then Rotterdam and later London.

His personal best time in full marathon stands at 2:12:51, which he set in this year’s Paris marathon. Rukundo, Simuceka and Rutayisire are also set to embark on training in their respective training camps in Italy and France.

Ends