Timothy Toroitich’s experience came to the fore as he ended Uganda’s six-year medal at the A
frica Senior Athletics Championships by winning 10000m bronze on Day One on Wednesday in Asaba, Nigera.
The long-serving Ugandan Toroitich finally got the monkey off his back by scooping his first senior career track medal after taking third place behind Ethiopian pairing in a time of 29 minutes and 11.87 seconds.
The Championships has been marred by disorganisation ever since teams landed in Naija land with some getting stranded in Lagos for days without connection to Asaba.
Even at Asaba, the Ethiopian flag for race winner Jemal Yimer was hoisted upside down, only a mark of the big disorganization.
But Toroitich managed to leapfrog the challenges, holding off the burden from Kenyan Vincent Kipsang in the final stretch to bag the medal.
“I am very happy,” a more relieved Toroitich said after picking his medals.
He is widely credited for having broken the field to help Joshua Cheptegei get the 10000m silver behind Great Britain’s Mo Farah at the London World Championships last August.
He did the same as Cheptegei got the 10000m Commonwealth title on the Gold Coast in Australia back in April.
Toroitich had even done more for Moses Kipsiro over the years but never onto the podium. His moment finally came.
“It was too humid but I am so happy because this is my first senior medal,” he said.
“I was prepared and I thank God. My time has finally come. There is time for everyone and it means one should ever give up,”
This was Uganda’s first silverware at the Africa Seniors since Benjamin Kiplagat got steeplechase bronze and Sarah Nambawa retained triple jump gold.
2018 AFRICA SENIOR ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS
MEN’S 10000M FINAL - RESULT
1 Jemal Yimer (ETH) 28:08.01
2 Belihu Berta (ETH) 29:11.09
3 Timothy Toroitich (UGA) 29:11.87
4 Vincent Kipsang (KEN) 29:14.52
5 Kipsang Temoi (KEN) 29:25.54
6 Awet Habte (ERI) 29:38.41
7 Josephat Bett (KEN) 30:13.22
8 Ibrahim Hassan (DJI) 30:13.36
9 Elroy Gelant (RSA) 30:23.25
10 Ali Mahamat (CHA) 31:12.18
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CAST OF 10000M CHAMPIONS
2016: Stephen Mokoka (RSA)
2014: Nguse Amlosom (ERI)
2012: Kenneth Kipkemoi (KEN)
2010: Wilson Kiprop (KEN)
2008: Gebregziabher Gebremariam (ETH)
2006: Moses Kipsiro (UGA)
2004: Charles Kamathi (KEN)
2002: Paul Malakwen Kosgei (KEN)
2000: Abraha Hadush (ETH)
CAST OF UGANDA’S MEDALS AT AFRICA SENIORS
2012 Porto Novo: Benjamin Kiplagat (Steeplechase bronze), Sarah Nambawa (Triple jump gold)
2010 Nairobi: Moses Kipsiro (10000m silver), Sarah Nambawa (Triple jump gold)
2006 Bambous: Moses Kipsiro (5000m bronze, 10000m gold)
2002 Rades/Tunis: Dorcus Inzikuru (5000m silver)
1998 Dakar: Davis Kamoga (400m silver)
This writer is a scribe with Daily Monitor Newspaper and, also a sports presenter with NBS Television and Radio One FM 90 in Kampala. Follow him on Twitter: @AllanDarren and his Facebook Page: Darren Allan Kyeyune
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