Leni sets new 400m record, targets Doha

For the fifth time in just over a year, quarter miler Shida Leni created the biggest roar during the fourth national athletics trials on Saturday at Namboole by breaking the women 400m record.

Kampala. For the fifth time in just over a year, quarter miler Shida Leni created the biggest roar during the fourth national athletics trials on Saturday at Namboole by breaking the women 400m record.
The 24-year-old was in sizzling form as she clocked a new personal best of 52.00 seconds to shatter her old mark of 52.12 seconds she set last year.

In February 2018, she erased Justine Bayigga’s old record of 52.48 set in Khartoum Sudan on May 26, 2008 to 52.47 before breaking it again three time, twice on one say.
With her sights set on the upcoming World Championships in Doha, Qatar this September, she continues to work harder.
“My next mission is to qualify for the World Championships. I want to continue training with my coaches Kevin and Sue (O’Connor) to keep improving my time,” said the athlete who has been managed by the British couple for six years.

She needs to lower her time to 51.80 second to qualify for the Doha championships.
“Breaking these records feels good because I can see the progress I am making. But I want to continue dominating this event and perform at major tournaments,” she said.

National athletics trials

SELECTED RESULTS
400m women
Shida Leni (Police) - 52.00
Emilly Nanziri (Police) - 53.85
Nasiba Nabirye (Uwa) - 54.67
800m women
Dorcus Ajok (Ndejje) - 2:08.05
Emilly Nanziri (Police) - 2:10.3
Jennifer Nyakato (Makerere) - 2:10.8