It was a weekend of athletics in Bugesera District as teams from across the country gathered at Bugesera Stadium for the 2022 National Track and Field Championship which concluded with Sina and APR Athletics club coming out on top in medals. Organized by Rwanda Athletics Federation, the annual championship aims at identifying athletes who will represent Rwanda in international competitions this year. It attracted various local clubs and individuals, men and women, who compete in different disciplines including 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1,500m, 3,000m, 5,000m, and 10,000m. It also includes javelin throw, triple jump and long jump, shot put as well as discus throw among other categories. Local athletics giants APR athletics club emerged overall winners in men's category, taking home five gold medals, one ahead of second-placed Nyamasheke who won four gold medals while University of Rwanda(UR)-Huye completed the top three podium with three gold medals. Meanwhile, the Sina Women's Athletics Club topped the women’s categories with six gold medals, followed by Nyamasheke and UR-Huye who won five and four gold medals respectively. Athletes from both APR and Nyamasheke have always been present on the podium for over the past years, but UR-Huye’s new faces surprised many at the stadium with impressive performances that surprised so many at the stadium. Some winners of the just-concluded track and field series include APR’s John Hakizimana who struck gold in men’s 10 000m clocking 29:50:24 while Rwanda Athletics Club’s Marthe Yankurije won the women’s 10 000m race clocking 36:56:11. Alexi Nshimiyimana of Nyamasheke Athletics Club also struck gold in the men’s long jump where he covered a distance of 6,38m while Jeanine Ishimwe of UR-Huye took home a gold medal after throwing the javelin the furthest on a distance of 35,59m. According to RAF President, Lt Col. (Rtd) Lemuel Kayumba, the national field and track series is one of the tournaments that will help the federation identify athletes who will represent Rwanda at the the international scene with the 2023 World Athletics Championship scheduled in Budapest, Hungary, next year on their radar.
