Kiplimo pushes for talent search

Kiplimo (C) and a group of youngsters in training in Kapchorwa last year. PHOTO/COURTESY
What you need to know:
Kiplimo, Rosa and with technical backing from Uganda Athletics Federation (UAF) will stage the third Discovery Uganda event over two days in eastern Uganda.
Jacob Kiplimo burst onto the global athletics stage at the age of 16. His manager Federico Rosa spoke in high regard of him.
In 2016, Kiplimo won the 10000-metre bronze medal at the World Athletics Junior Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland. He also got his Olympics debut in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil that year.
To-date, Kiplimo boasts of eight years’ experience with 11 individual medals in elite long-distance running.
And with his management Rosa Associati, Kiplimo is hoping to open new doors to teenagers early enough through a talent search championship this weekend.
Kiplimo, Rosa and with technical backing from Uganda Athletics Federation (UAF) will stage the third Discovery Uganda event over two days in eastern Uganda.
“It is organized by Rosa Associati powered by Jacob Kiplimo with support of Nike,” said UAF general secretary Beatrice Ayikoru.
The championship set to attract over 1000 participants comprises a trail and road running. “It has been developed as a talent identification and development opportunity as well as promotion of sports tourism,” she said.
For years, Rosa has staged this event next door in Kenya but in Uganda, this will be the third edition after inception in 2023.
“Trail running from Nakapiripirit on Friday (today) while road races will happen on Saturday (tomorrow),” said an event organizer from Rosa, preferring anonymity.
There will be 10 races on road in Kapchorwa on Saturday comprising senior and junior categories of both genders, school races for age groups of under 12 and under 15.
Nike and Rosa have staged prize money amounting up to Shs30m for the events over both days.
The championship will be lucrative to UAF who also are searching for talent to compete at the future 2025 World Athletics Road Running Championships in San Diego, California and the 2026 World Cross-country Championships in Tallahassee, Florida, both in the USA.
DISCOVERY UGANDA RUNNING
Inception: 2023
Dates: January 17-18
Stance: Trail running & Road Races
Locations: Nakapiripirit & Kapchorwa
Organizers: Rosa Associati
Partners: Nike, Uganda Athletics Federation
Lead Athlete: Jacob Kiplimo
Prize Money: Shs30m