Written By | Sports Reporter
Akampa After winning
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MUKONO
When he fell in the 10,000m race yesterday—the event he was defending—many could not count on him for the 5000m.
However, Seth Akampa beat all odds to return beaming today in the trickier 5000m race, thanks to the Red Cross doctors and his coaches, Gordon Ahimbisibwe and Abudalah Byabagambi.
The BSU law student went all the way to win the race in 14:40, beating Bugema's 10,000m gold medallist, Elisha Yeko, who settled for silver four seconds behind.
The race
A 5000m and 10,000m East Africa double medallist, world university cross-country gold holder, 2023 10,000m national winner, and now 5000m national champion, Akampa is the most decorated Association of Uganda University Sports (AUUS) long-distance runner of his generation.
"Our God reigns, and He has done it for me. I lost my title defence yesterday, and I had a bad night of thoughts. But thank God He kept me strong, and I recovered in time. Having gone back with no medal would not have been good. But I have it, and I have set a record that, next championship, another person will be coming for," Akampa said.
Akampa celebrates
Akampa's gold was BSU's fourth medal at the games, with Patricia Kobuhwezi (1500m silver and 5000m bronze) and Henry Mugume (10,000m bronze) having won the others.
Mercy Ajanga and Ishmail Akanyijuka reached the finals of the 100m and 200m but could not finish in the medal positions, though they posted personal best times.
BSU, one of the three universities from western Uganda, is still in contention for woodball medals but has had both its volleyball teams and its netball team eliminated.
Torch Media Africa
