Andrew Owusu Coaches Uganda Athlete to Triple Jump Gold Medal

The Ugandan anthem was finally played at a major championship yesterday after a four-year wait. The last time the Ugandan flag was hoisted so high in a major sporting event was at the 2006 Commonwealth Games where Dorcus Inzikuru and Boniface Kiprop won gold.

The duo has fast faded off the scene and a new sporting heroine was born as the Africa Senior Championships came to a climax at Nyayo stadium yesterday.

Sarah Nambawa became the first Ugandan to win triple jump gold on continental level after leaping to a new 13.95-metre national record. I feel very happy.

I feel very proud, the 26-year-old athlete said. Ugandas campaign looked destined to end on an agonising note after Moses Kipsiros bid to win a second medal hit a dead end.

Kipsiro excited the few Ugandans here by taking an early lead and dominating for about seven laps but steadily faded as Kenyans Edwin Soy, Vincent Yator and Mark Kiptoo turned on the heat.

But with many glued to the 12-and-a half lap race in which Kenya recorded a 1-3 finish, Nambawa leapt to 13.33 metres on her first attempt. That effort ranked her third behind two Nigerians Nkiruka Domike and Otonye Iworima.

The America-based Nambawa then improved to a massive 13.95m on her second attempt, the best jump in Africa this year.

That was the last she would step on the jumping track. Because of a hamstring strain after the first jump, my coach (Andrew Owusu) told me not to jump again until any of my opponents records a better distance or comes close, with the Ugandan flag wrapped around her waist, the jovial Nambawa remarked.

The US-based student, who took to serious triple jumping less than 36 months ago, is being coached by Ghanaian Andrew Owusu. Coincidentally, Owusu still holds the African Championships mens triple jump record at 17.23m. He is currently an assistant professor at Middle Tennessee State University where Sarah attends school.