Uganda names its Olympic athletics team

(BEIJING, July 16)-- Uganda has named its Olympic athletics team set to join the Beijing Games in August, according to a report published on the official website of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).

Moses Kipsiro and Boniface Kiprop, Uganda's leading long-distance runners, are both on the Beijing-bound athletics squad.

Moses Kipsiro won a bronze medal in the 5000-meter race at the 2007 IAAF World Championships in Athletics held in Osaka, and again in the same event at the IAAF Golden League competition in Brussels last year.

Boniface Kiprop placed fourth in the 10,000-meter race at the 2004 Athens Olympics. He won a gold medal in the 10,000-meter race at the Commonwealth Games held in Melbourne in 2006.

Also on Uganda's team is the 19-year-old Abraham Chepkirwok, who won the bronze medal at the World Junior Championships held in Beijing in 2006. This month in Madrid Chepkirwok set a personal best of 1:43.72.

Chepkirwok's British coach, Ricky Simms, was quoted on the IAAF's official website as saying: "He is fifth fastest in the world this year, his main target will be reaching the finals and try for a medal for himself as well as his country Uganda."

Uganda's Olympic athletics team:

Men

Abraham Chepkirwok (800m), Moses Kipsiro (5000m), Boniface Kiprop (5000m & 10,000m), Geoffrey Kusuro (5000m), Benjamin Kiplagat (3000m Steeplechase),Alex Malinga (marathon)

Women

Justine Bayigga (400m)