Nanyondo, Musagala run personal bests in Hengelo

KAMPALA.

Across the globe, several runners were making their final attempts to yield qualification times for the Commonwealth Games at the weekend.
But those who have already beaten the standards were busy seeking faster times ahead of the July 23 – August 3 event in Glasgow, Scotland.
And Ugandan middle athletes Ronald Musagala and Winnie Nanyondo, who are already on the provisional 18-man bound team, set new personal bests in the 800m event at the sixth leg of the IAAF World Challenge Series in the Dutch city of Hengelo on Sunday. Musagala, who broke onto the scene when he earned qualification at last year’s National Athletics Championships to the Moscow World Championships, was second in 1:45.27 after two laps.
The 21-year-old finished behind world youth 1500m champion Robert Biwott, who took the lead with 200m to go and won in 1:44.75, just 0.06 shy of his personal best.
Dutch revelation Thijmen Kupers, finished third in 1:45.68.

Second best
Nanyondo too, came second in 1:59.39 ahead of Cuba’s Rosemary Almanza (1:59.70) and behind USA’s Brenda Martinez.
World bronze medallist Martinez opened up a big lead after the first lap, and although the field closed in on her down the home straight, she help on to win in a season’s best of 1:59.24. European champion Lynsey Sharp was fourth in 2:00.09.

IAAF WORLD CHALLENGE MEET IN HENGELO 2014
800M - MEN
1. Robert Biwott (KEN) 1:44.75
2. Ronald Musagala (UGA) 1:45.27
3. Thijmen Kupers (NED) 1:45.68
800M - WOMEN
1. Brenda Martinez (USA) 1:59.24
2. Winnie Nanyondo (UGA) 1:59.39
3. Rose Mary Almanza (CUB) 1:59.70
TEAM UGANDA TO GLASGOW 2014
MEN: Solomon Mutai, Abraham Kiplimo, Philip Kiplimo, Moses Kibet, Timothy Toroitich, Thomas Ayeko, Philip Kipyeko, Jacob Araptany, Ronald Musagala, Jimmy Adar, Fredrick Chemonges, Dennis Opio, Ali Ngaimoko, Emmanuel Tugumisirize & Anthony Okiror
WOMEN: Vanis Chemutai, Winnie Nannyondo, Juliet Chekwel & Sarah Nambawa
RESERVES: Moses Kipsiro, Benjamin Kiplagat

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