In July last year Athenry AC undertook one of its biggest ever projects in organising the High5 Galway Twilight Track and Field Meet. Entries were accepted from athletes of all standards and from many parts. Some of the best British athletes around mixed on the day with the most talented runners, jumpers and throwers that Ireland had to offer. Other races on the programme provided local runners with a chance to share the limelight. The money had been found, the planning had been done and the stage was all set for a great evening’s athletics under a balmy summer sky. As many of you will remember of course, on the appointed day, it lashed down soft Galway rain in big buckets all day long. What can you do? Very little, I suppose. The show must, and did, go on.
A little over twelve months after the event and we still have some fine memories of that day on the track in Dangan. Foremost amongst those memories for me was the short few days around that time that I had a chance to get to know one of our star athletes, Isaac Kiprop of Uganda. We were very lucky to have been able to bring Isaac to run in Galway. As reigning East African Cross Country Champion Isaac was a genuine world-class athlete. We couldn't believe our luck in having him there. Isaac ran the 5,000m in Galway and proved much too strong for his competition on that day. His grace and strength as he circled the Dangan track was breathtaking. He didn’t run like a mortal it looked like he was using invisible rollerblades as distance disappeared effortlessly beneath his feet. I’ve often been asked between then and now what has happened to Isaac in the meantime.
Isaac Takes The Honours
As you might understand Uganda is a long way away and it’s hard to keep tabs on someone’s career at such a distance but encouraging news reached us in January that Isaac had won the third edition of the Bukwo Road Race in Uganda ahead of some fairly stiff competition.
http://www.iaaf.org/news/Kind=2/newsId=37318.html
In the spring came news that Isaac had qualified to compete on his national team for the 2007 IAAF World Cross Country Championships which were to be held in Mombassa, Kenya. He finished in third place in the Ugandan National Cross Country Championships behind the more established Boniface Kiprop (no relation) and Moses Kipsiro.
http://www.iaaf.org/WXC07/news/Kind=2/newsId=37482.html
Conditions in the Mombassa World Championships were savage and many fine runners couldn’t even complete the distance but when all the running had been completed Isaac had finished in 26th place which was a fantastic achievement. Many of you will know that this event is perhaps the toughest single foot race held worldwide each year. To cap it all off Uganda took bronze medals in the senior mens team event, something Isaac can be proud of forever. One of his colleagues Boniface Kiprop had collapsed course only yards short of the finish line while running in fourth place. Had he been able to complete Uganda would have taken silver medals.
http://sport.scotsman.com/athletics.cfm?id=692642007
News reached us this week that Isaac had finished off his 2007 season in fine style by claiming the Ugandan National Road Racing title over 20k. Isaac only turned twenty-one years of age yesterday and we wish him all the best of Galway luck in his athletics career. If by any chance anyone who is in touch with Isaac were to read this, could they please pass on our best wishes to him from the many friends he made in Galway on his visit last year and tell him that we hope to see Isaac in this part of the world at least one more time.
http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/30/585907