Mutai, Cheptegei face off for top athletics gong
Legendary Stephen Kiprotich (L) joins Mutai in celebration after the latter finished third at the Beijing World Championships marathon race. Mutai is the leading favourite for the award. Photo by AFP
What you need to know:
Athletics. Uspa voted Cheptegei as the Athlete of the Year but UAF could go for Mutai who won bronze at the Worlds
KAMPALA.
“There’s nothing so rewarding as to make people realise they are worthwhile in this world,” reads a life quote by Bob Anderson.
We are all worth being reminded of our value in life. The Uganda Athletics Federation (UAF) Annual Awards Gala is yet again here to reward 2015’s best athletes.
The athletes will ditch their spikes and bibs for jackets and dresses to join invited guests at Sheraton Hotel for the glamorous event tonight.
The peak of the function will come when chief guest Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda walks to the podium to crown one of six contenders as 2015 Athlete of the Year.
That long cast includes Stella Chesang, Solomon Mutai, Joshua Cheptegei, Janat Chemusto, Fred Musobo and Dorcus Ajok.
Each should fancy their chances as they contributed to Uganda’s 20 medals collected across different regional, continental and global events last year.
Going by magnitude, Solomon Mutai should be lead contender having won marathon bronze at the Beijing World Championships in a race that included defending champion Stephen Kiprotich and world record holder Dennis Kimetto.
Mutai is again up against Cheptegei, to whom he lost the 2015 Nile Special-Uspa Male Athlete of the Year.
“Winning that Uspa award motivates me ahead of the gala,” Cheptegei told Saturday Monitor. “2015 was just a better year for me. The best is yet to come from me.” In 2015, Cheptegei claimed 10,000m Africa junior gold and broke the 10,000m national record while winning the Grand Berlin Run.
Musobo and Chesang won gold in the respective senior men and women’s race at the IAAF World Mountain Running Championships in Wales.
However, Chemusto could be above in the pecking order having won two bronze medals in the 1,500m and 3,000m at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Samoa. She also bagged 1,500m silver and 3,000m bronze at the Africa Youth Championships in Mauritius. But Chemutai, too, picked up silver in both races in the Oceanian nation while Ajok won 1500m gold at the World University Games in South Korea.
CONTENDERS
Athlete of Year: Solomon Mutai, Stella Chesang, Joshua Cheptegei, Janat Chemusto, Fred Musobo, Dorcus Ajok
Male Upcoming Athlete of the Year: Abel Chebet, Boniface Sikowo, Jacob Kiplimo
Female Upcoming Athlete of the Year: Peruth Chemutai, Mercyline Chelangat, Nabirye Nashiba, Josephine Lalam
PAST WINNERS
2014: Moses Kipsiro
2013: Stephen Kiprotich
2012: Stephen Kiprotich
2011: Annet Negesa
2010: Moses Kipsiro
2009: Moses Kipsiro
2008: Moses Kipsiro
2007: Moses Kipsiro
2006: Boniface Kiprop
