Mak rugby golden as Wesonga sparkles

Mukono

Ivan Wesonga had already demonstrated accurate authority as he sprinted to victory in his 100 metres heat before a screeching home crowd at Uganda Christian University (UCU), Mukono yesterday.

However, observers knew the man to beat was instead Hamidu Bidusu after the Ndejje runner sprouted out of the blocks in heat 1 like a rocket being launched to stride away from the chasing pack until he finally jogged to the finish line Usain Bolt style.

But not Wesonga, the 100m inter-university defending champion with UCU, whose sprint to the finish line in 10.07secs bewilderingly turned Bidusu’s earlier jogs into quick strides, but not quick enough to stop the hosts from claiming gold. “I’m the best guy around in 100 metres,” purred Wesonga, also the East Africa Inter-University 100, 200 and 400x100m defending champion.

“I had to win. I’m even injured and shouldn’t have run but when my colleague Hardman Nsamba pulled a muscle in the 400m, I knew I had to at least win this medal for us,” added the 23-year-old, who took keen interest in athletics while at St Lawrence Secondary School.

His was UCU’s third gold but when talking the shining stone, no one bosses standings better than Ndejje, who had claimed six by press time and were leading overall with 11 medals. UCU’s Mary Zawadi won the women’s 100m women with KU’s Halimah Nakaayi coming second.

Thomas Rono of Ndejje claimed the men’s 10,000m gold ahead of Bugema’s Joshua Cheptagei while Kipteek Chemtingen (men) of KU and Ndejje’s Dorcus Ajok (women) clinched gold in the 1,500m.

Games record winner Makerere refused to end the day without gold, their rugby team claiming the shining piece from deposed champions Kyambogo. Coach Temper Benjami’s side won all their four games to surge to the title with 16 points, with UCU clinching silver and Kyambogo bronze.

The Inter-University Games enter their penultimate day today with most disciplines going into the quarterfinals, semifinals, and some finals.

Yesterday’s results

TRACK AND FIELD

100m final (Men)
Ivan Wesonga (UCU) 10.07 secs
Hamidu Bidusu (Ndejje) 10.09
100m final (Women)
Mary Zawadi (UCU) 12.06 secs
Halimah Nakaayi (KU) 12.09
10,000 final (Men)
Thomas Rono (Ndejje) 29:23.1
Joshua Cheptagei (Bugema) 30:02.4
1,500m final (Men)
Kipteek Chemtingen (KU) 3:52.8
Sam Cherop (KU) 3:57.3
1,500m final (Women)
Dorcus Ajok (Ndejje) 4:34.7
Winnie Nanyondo (KU) 4:37.6
Shot-put final (Men)
Jacob Wokorach (Ndejje) 12.96mtrs
Richard Oyet (Ndejje) 11.76
Shot-put final (Women)
Acan Janneth (UCU) 11.54
Peace Mirembe (Ndejje) 11.00
Javelin final (Women)
Lucy Aber (KU) 43.80
Acan Janneth (UCU) 40.45
Long jump final (Men)
Alfred Okot (KIU) 7.15
Vincent Okot (UCU) 6.95
Football (Men)
Mak 0-0 Nkumba
Women
UCU 4-0 KYU (Goals by Ritah Kivumbi)
Basketball (women)
UCU 54-35 Nkumba
KIU 78-18 KYU
Mak 57-46 KU
Men
Ndejje 47-44 KYU
UCU 109-32 Busiitema
Ndejje 76-60 Mubs
Quarterfinals (today)
UCU vs. Makerere
KIU vs . Mubs
Ndejje vs. Bugema
Kyambogo vs. Kampala University

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