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L. MathekaOtieno hoping to end Olympics chase in Uganda
Reading Time: 2min | Fri. 23.04.21. | 19:07
Four Kenyan sprinters will be in Kampala for Uganda’s National Trials and Under 20 Championships on Saturday 24th April 2021 as the quest for Olympic qualifying time hits fever pitch.
Olympics-chasing Mark Otieno is hoping his search for the elusive 10.05 Olympics qualifying time in the 100m will end at the Namboole Stadium in Uganda on Saturday when he takes part in the Uganda National Trials cum Under 20 Championship.
“London was mind-blowing for me. Participating on that stage certainly changed me. Local meets seemed very easy mentally after that.”
— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) July 11, 2020
Mark Odhiambo ready for more experiences on the big stage????
????:https://t.co/Nt2Q0Fb6Lc pic.twitter.com/9GlVSIGK3i
Otieno left the country on Friday, 23 April for Kampala after being cleared by Athletics Kenya, alongside three others, to leave the national team camp where Kenyan sprinters are preparing for the World Relays due next month in Poland.
“After my race in Zambia, I took some days off as my body was tired. I then returned to training for the Uganda meet but still focused on getting enough rest so the issue of fatigue and injuries associated to the same will not be a problem as I push myself to qualify in Uganda. Nothing much about my training changed in the lead up to the Uganda event, but I feel ready for the task ahead,” said Otieno ahead of his departure to Uganda.
#RoadtoTokyo2020
— TeamKenya (@OlympicsKe) April 12, 2021
Mark Otieno Hit 10:11,over the weekend in Zambia. Still chasing that Olympic qualifying time????????#TeamKenya@athletics_kenya @moscakenya @KCS_Kenya @Markotieno14 pic.twitter.com/xBP0QcdDcd
He continued, “Some friends in Uganda informed me of the event and, by faith I applied online for the same before reaching out to AK to release me for the same. The federation did their due diligence and when they were satisfied the event was sanctioned by the Ugandan federation and our invitations to the same sent through them, they allowed us to participate. I know a few of the athletes who will be lining up for this competition and I expect a tough race but my focus is on running a good race and giving the Olympics timings a shot.”
Otieno will compete in both 100m and 200m. He clocked a personal best 10.11s in 100m and 20.46s over 200m at the National Heroes stadium in Zambia but his he believes the conditions are set for a faster performance in Kampala.
The former national record holder is looking to set another record of being the first Kenyan to ever run a 100m race at the Olympics, having set such a record at the 2017 IAAF Wold Championships in London.
