Two tickets but no seat for Ayeko on Rio plane

Thomas Ayeko leads the pack during the National Cross-country Championships at Chairman’s Park, Jinja early this year. PHOTO BY ISMAIL KEZAALA

What you need to know:

Near miss. Thomas Ayeko qualified in the 10,000m and marathon but won’t travel to Brazil.

Kampala.

Thomas Ayeko has swallowed the bitter pill that he will miss the Rio Olympics despite qualifying over two disciplines.
The long-distance runner hit the qualification marks over the 10000m and marathon events but won’t be with 21 other Ugandans when the quadrennial Games roll off from August 5-21. “I am sad of course,” Ayeko told Daily Monitor.

Following a tough transition from track to road, Ayeko came fourth behind a Kenyan trio in two hours, 12 minutes and 17 seconds at the Rennes Marathon in France on October 25, 2015. That debut 42km race had seen him beat the Olympic grade of 2:19:00. “I knew I had qualified so I began preparing for Rio,” he said. “But after sometime when the provisional list for Rio came out, I did not see my name there,” the 24-year-old offered. Uganda Athletics Federation (UAF) had not considered him for the available three marathon quota places. Why?

As per International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) competitions conditions, one must have qualified between January 1, 2015 and July 11, 2016 in a marathon whose course is or was measured by an IAAF/AIMS Grade ‘A’ or ‘B’ International Road Race Course Measurer.

The Rennes Marathon is not classified in any of these grades, hence nullifying Ayeko’s performance.
Had it been otherwise, Ayeko would have made the list to Rio with the second best qualification time. Only reigning Olympic champion Stephen Kiprotich was better with a national record of 2:06.33 after taking second at the 2015 Tokyo Marathon.

Not yet aware of the marathon woes but already sensing trouble, KCCA club coach Raphael Kasajja lured Ayeko to come to Namboole and attempt to qualify over the 10000m race at the National Championships on July 6. “UAF was not clear on why Ayeko was not on the Rio-bound list so we opted to try out something else,” Kasajja said then.

At Namboole, Ayeko led the 25-lap race from the start. With a timer in hand, Kasajja kept encouraging Ayeko and the already Rio-bound teammate Timothy Toroitich after every lap. He roared at them keep up the pace all through. “We are within the Olympic mark. Go faster, quicker,” he lauded the pair. With about 1500m left, Ayeko broke away to win the national title in 27:57.30. He had beaten the Olympic standard by 2.7 seconds and together with Kasajja, they celebrated. But that delight was curtailed after UAF realised his 10000m qualification time was the slowest of four runners including Joshua Cheptegei, Martin Kurong and Toroitich.

There were only three available places for 10,000m as well, meaning Ayeko also missed making a second successive Olympic appearance.
“It is very disappointing that he will not go in any of the events,” said Kasajja moments after learning about the permutations over both races. “He deserved to make the list.”

The 2011 Africa junior bronze medalist is now trying to pick the pieces. “I am preparing for another marathon in October,” he said.

Ayeko at a glance
Date of birth: February 10, 1992
Personal bests: 27:40.96 / 2:12:17
Club: KCCA
Olympic appearances: 1 (London 2012)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
2016: National 10,000m champion
2013: W. Championships 10,000m finalist
2011: World Junior Cross-country silver
2011: Africa Junior 5000m & 10000m bronze medalist