Inzikuru plotting another comeback to world stage

Former world champion Dorcus Inzikuru is plotting another return to the big stage after enduring a torrid time in the just-concluded track season. “I am returning stronger than you have seen me in recent years,” Inzikuru said in an interview with Daily Monitor yesterday.

After months of hard work and sacrifice, the former 3,000m world steeplechase gold medal winner failed to make the grade for any global event in the season that climaxed with theWorld Championships held August 27 to September 4 in South Korea .

She painfully watched on television as other runners competed in South Korea and the All Africa Games in Maputo (September 3 to 18). “I got injured at a time I had picked fitness. It was very frustrating,” Inzikuru revealed. But she is not about to lose hope. She is launching another comeback campaign. And she won’t give up until she wins another international medal. “I want to be at the London Olympics next year,” the 29-year-old said.

While some runners have been enjoying their off-season, Inzikuru has been in Iten, Kenya, trying to get into shape. “I want to prepare myself very early.” Her first test is not very far. It’s on November 27 when she will try to defend her 21km title in the MTN Kampala Marathon.

Last year, she comfortably won the race in 1:18:42 but might have to dig deeper this time round with an increase of foreign competitors. Organisers yesterday said five Ethiopians and 25 elite Kenyan runners had confirmed participation.

More from Tanzania and Rwanda are likely to sign up before the Wednesday registration deadline.
“So far, we have registered 6,048 participants. We hope to have hit our 20,000 target by early next week,” MTN’s Aggrey Kagonyera said.

The increase in cash prizes seems to be a motivating factor for elite runners. Inzikuru, who returned from Kenya this week to sit her examinations at Makerere University Business School where she is pursuing a diploma in business administration, desperately wants a slice of the money to facilitate her training.

From Shs8m last year, the winner of this year’s 42km full marathon will pocket Shs16m. The 21km and 10km prizes are to be increased as well.

“I know the competition is going to be tougher because of the money. But I am working for the top prize,” Inzikuru noted. “However, we need a permanent route, free of traffic to be able to run well.”

The first Ugandan to win a World Championships gold medal and undoubtedly the best female runner Uganda has ever produced, Inzikuru has struggled to return to the top since 2007 when she gave birth.

She is, however, looking forward to next year. “If things don’t work out on track, I will try out full marathon,” Inzikuru said.

Meanwhile, Stanbic Bank yesterday registered 718 of its employees to compete in the marathon organised to raise funds for the underprivileged in Amuria District.

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