A 29-year-old long distance runner, Levi Kiprotich, is in preparation for the 2023 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships, where he will represent Uganda in Innsbruck, Austria, that is scheduled for June 6, 2023.

This comes after Kiprotich came in the first position at the National Mountain Running Championship in Kapchorwa over the weekend.

Kiprotich won the 12.5-kilometer race in 45:48.69 seconds, leading his Ugandan teammates.

He said that it is his first time winning the championship, which has encouraged him to get more forecasts in the sport and a head start on the upcoming run.

Kiprotich said that he got stiff competition from the Uganda Wild Life Authority (UWA): Dismas Yeko, who came second as he crossed the finishing line in 45:50.02 seconds, and Caleb Tungwet of the Arua Athletics Association, who came third in 46:11.47 seconds after splitting off from a group of five athletes who engaged until 9.5 km, when Kiprotich hurried to secure a first position.

24 selected athletes will start the residential training starting May 1st until they leave for Austria, said Paul Okello, the organizing secretary at the Uganda Athletics Federation.