Kajuga in battle for Olympic glory

Rwanda’s long distance runner Robert Kajuga will be up for the toughest challenge of his career when he takes on elite athletes in the men’s 10,000 meters final tonight at the Olympic stadium in London.The 27-year old, who has a personal best time of 28:03:24, faces leading contenders such as Wilson (Kenya), the world leader at 27:01.98 from his early June run in Eugene; Moses Masai (Kenya), (26:49.20 PB, 2007), the 2009 World silver medalist; and relative newcomer Bedan Karoki, who’s run 27:05.50 this year but remains untested.Kajuga, who is making his debut in the Olympic Games, has had good performances since the past international competitions. He finished ninth and fifth in the 5000m and 10,000m in last year’s All African Games held in Maputo.Even at 30 and on the mend from a series of injuries, Ethiopia’s Kenenisa Bekele managed to earn his spot in the Ethiopian squad with a 27:02.59 run in Birmingham in late June, the third fastest time of the year. He is one of the favorites for a medal.Even one year after his high profile DNF at the World Championships, he came back with gusto in Brussels clocking a sensational 26:43.16. Bekele will be backed up by familiar faces as well. His younger brother Tariku will make his second Olympic appearance, but in the 10,000m for the first time, courtesy of his victory in Hengelo (27:11.70) and runner-up finish to Kenenisa in Birmingham with a 27:03.24 PB. Gebregziabher Gebremariam (27:03.58 SB), a 2005 Olympian in the 5000m, completes the Ethiopian trio.Experienced Ugandan Moses Kipsiro, who’s run 27:04.48 and 13:00.68 this season and Great Britain’s Mo Farah, are also other runners not to be discounted for an Olympic medal.Whoever the three athletes will be on the medal podium is still a toss up but the international stage has been set for what is expected to be an incredibly competitive and dramatic race. In previous Men’s 10,000 meter events, the Summer Olympics have featured many legendary runners including Finland’s Lasse Viren, Ethiopia’s Haile Gebreslassie and Miruts Yifter, Kenya’s Paul Tergat, and Australia’s Ron Clarke.Meanwhile, Claudette Mukasakindi opted out of the women’s 10000m final last night and will now compete in the women’s full marathon due on Sunday.

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Kajuga in battle for Olympic glory