BENSON OKOT SHARES ABOUT SPRINTS IN UGANDA.

 BENSON OKOT SHARES ABOUT SPRINTS IN UGANDA.

ABOUT BEN

AGE : 25

100M : 10.65

200M : 20.95

400M : 47.80

DEGREE : Entrepreneurship and project planning and management.

DIPLOMA : Diploma in project planning and management.

WHAT CHALLENGES DO YOU FACE AS SPRINTERS?

There are personal challenges that you may do something about and general challenges that you can’t control as an individual.

One is our education system which hinders our training. You spend most of the day in class and don’t have time to develop the talent. 

Secondly we train individualy and this hinders us allot as a sprinter. You need a group of two or three sprinters who are at the same level with you or better than you. Ugandan sprinters look at each other as rivals than a team. When they meet, they keep avoiding each other. This hinders growth. We don’t help each other. Winning is not by being number one, it’s by dropping your time. If we sprinters changed our attitudes, we can do better. 

Thirdly sprints are more of technical running and mechanics. You have to get everything right and you need to monitor your nutrition. These factors have hindered my individual improvement.Other factors that are external are the lack of facilities. The only time Ugandan sprinters have access to using blocks is during trials. Block sessions are very important. Allot of time is wasted in reacting off the

blocks.

THERE RUMOURS THAT SHORT SPRINTERS IN UGANDA ARE BEING DISCOURAGED BY OFFICIALS WHY

HAVE YOU STAYED IN SPRINTING?

Yes I got disappointed somehow on hearing such a disclaimer from a certain group of people. But I want to tell you that if you are passionate about something and you’re sure it will work for you, there is no way some other person can come and discourage you from it. No one can change what I feel am capable of doing. I give a deaf ear to the critics and haters. If we go by what others say, Isaac we will and up going to marathon race which is laughable.

TOP ELITE INTERNATIONAL HAVE BEEN CAUGHT IN DRUGS. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON DRUGS?

That’s a broad topic to talk about and it has never got a conclusion. What I can say is train smart, run clean. There are those who choose to use them and those who run clean, so it’s a choice. We now have the anti doping urgency so there is some little bit of fairness today.

DO YOU ENVISON YOUR SELF AS THE NEXT BOLT?

I would not want to create more pressure on myself and my coach. I want to be okot Benson and achieve things in my own way.

HOW SHOULD SPRINTERS PREPARE FOR A RACE?

Mental strength starts from training. It is one of the most important things. You can be physically strong but if you’re mentally weak, your easily beaten. For example if you’re in a game and someone says something that hurts you, it can divert your focus. That’s where mental strength comes in. Getting focused, knowing what you want, and knowing what works for you in training. What you do in training is exactly what you do in a competition. You focus more on the race. How to execute it and trying to put away other negative things. Whether you’re the fast or the last, your mind must be on the finish line. You’re running against time. Maintain mechanics always.

DOES UGANDA HAVE SPRINT TALENT IN YOU OPPINION?

Uganda is a talented country. We have so many talents. Uganda used to be better than Kenya in sprints, but they are now better because a few years ago Kenya started to invest in sprints. Am sure if the present sprinters where natured and supported, we would have more than 100 good sprinters ready for trials with good time in Uganda

WHATS YOU’RE ADVISE TO FELLOW SPRINTERS?

With sports, nothing comes easy. The level of effort you put in determines your results. We should learn to work beyond our limits.

 Compiled by Isaac hiire (Rayz piano journalist)

+256783166522

Hiireisaac@gmail.com