Rwandan trio seek glory at Africa Youth Championships

Today Girls’ 800m final Two of Rwanda’s three representatives at the ongoing Africa Youth Championships in Bambous, Mauritius are seeking qualification to the World Youth athletics championships scheduled for July 15-19 in Cali, Colombia. Beatha Nishimwe already secured qualification to the world event in the girls’ 800m after she clocked 4:28 at last month’s Africa Junior Athletics championships in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and will be using this event for training as an opportunity to face the continent’s biggest upcoming stars. However, fellow country-mates Honorine Iribagiza (800m) and Placide Igiraneza (1500m) have to tussle it out with the traditional giants in Kenya and Ethiopia. “Our main target is to qualify for the IAAF World Youth Championships but a bronze medal would also be a good achievement for us,” explained John Peter Ndacyayisenga, the Rwanda Athletics Federation technical director. Iribagiza’s target is to run below 2:14 which is the qualification mark for the girls’ 800m while Igiraneza needs to cross the line before the 3:59 in the boys’ 1500m. Coach Patrick Niyibigira is very confident that the duo will make the mark to join Nishimwe who became the first Rwandan athlete to qualify for the IAAF World Youth Championships in the history of athletics in this country. “We have always received invitations from the IAAF but we are excited that Nishimwe qualified and now our objective is to see Iribagiza and Igiraneza qualify too,” explained Ndacyayisenga. Iribagiza will compete in the girls’ 1500m first phase race today and will be hoping to make the final on Saturday. Igiraneza will be competing in the boys’ 1500m first phase on Saturday with the final scheduled for Sunday, the last day of competition. The 16-year old Iribagiza was due to compete in the triple jump event yesterday in a bid to revamp Rwanda’s field event involvement. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Rwandan trio seek glory at Africa Youth Championships