Rukundo dominates national X-country trials

SYLVAIN Rukundo made his intentions clear as far as competing in next month’s World Cross Country Championship is concerned after dominating the first of two national cross country trials over the weekend. The Police athlete used 29 minutes, 17 seconds and 39 mirco-seconds to win the 12km race. Jean Marie Vianney Uwajeneza was 22 seconds off the pace while Jean pierre Mvuyekure rounded off the top three slots in a time of 29 minutes, 44 seconds and 23 micro-seconds. In the junior category (8km), APR’s Hussein Hakumugisha won the race after clocking 14.2.27 while Faustin Mpano (NAS) and Emmanuel Kwitonda (Kabuga) finished second and third after clocking 14.32.86 and 21.03.48 respectively. In the women category, Italy- based athlete Claudette Mukasakindi clocked 15.21.20 to beat her APR teammate Epiphanie Nyirabarame by 40 seconds. Jeanne d’Arc Mukakigeli rounded off the top three slots in a time of 16.05. 23. Kamonyi pair of Jacqueline Murekatete and Esperance Mukarugwiza emerged victors in the 6km category after clocking 15.51.99 and 17.21.22 respectively. The local athletics federation (RAF) is using the trials as a selection ground for the seven-man team which will represent the country at the 39th World Cross Country championship in Punta Umbria, Spain. Ends

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Rukundo dominates national X-country trials