'We must learn from All-Africa Games failure'

Rwandas poor performance in athletics at the ongoing 11th All-Africa Games in Congo Brazzaville should be a lesson for future competitions, according to the Rwanda Athletics Federation secretary general, Johnson Rukundo. Speaking to Times Sport on Thursday, Rukundo said, “Generally, the team performed poorly, especially the men but we can take positives from this and look forward to doing better in future competitions including qualifying for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.” “We did not do well in Brazzaville, not just failing to win any medals but even the times they posted were far from impressive. They (athletes) can draw lessons from the event and try to do better in the upcoming competitions,” Rukundo noted. Felicien Muhitira, who was fresh from IAAF World Championships in Beijing, used 29:23:00 to finish 8th in men’s 10.000m race while Eric Sebahire (30:24:68) finished 10th. Ethiopia’s Zewude Tsebelu with 27:27:19 won gold, compatriot Adugna Takele (27:27:40) clinched bronze while Leonard Barsoton (27:27:55) of Kenya claimed the silver medal. In the women’s 10.000m race on Wednesday, Kenyan Alice Aprot claimed gold with 31:24:18 followed by compatriot Gladys Kiptaelai (31:36:87) with Ethiopia’s Gelete Burka claiming bronze after using 31:38:33. Rwanda’s duo of Clementine Mukandanga (33:15:54) and Claudette Mukasakindi (33:40:10) finished sixth and seventh respectively. Rwanda’s four athletes, including two men and two women, returned home empty-handed on Thursday evening along with their coach Innocent Rwabuhihi. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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'We must learn from All-Africa Games failure'