Long-distance runner Yeko Bentaline stands optimistic as she continues to set herself up for the U20 World Championship.
Bentaline, who ran under the standard qualification time in 3000 meters during the Athletic Uganda’s third national trials held on Saturday April 11 at Namboole, stated that,
“This upcoming U20 World Championship is my last for this stage, and I am looking forward to performing at my best. In the 3000, since it is my best race, I will go for gold, and in the 5000, at least a bronze, because now I feel better than I did in the last championship.”
Bentaline and her colleagues are preparing for the championship scheduled for 5th to 8th August in Eugene, Oregon, United States, at Hayward Field.
In the last edition held in Lima, Peru, Bentaline finished seventh in the final, behind fellow Ugandan Keziah Chebet, who finished sixth.
Ethiopian Aleshign Baweke won gold with a time of 8:50.32, Kenyan Marion Jepngetich won silver and finished at the mark of 8:52.37, and Ethiopian Marta Alemayo won bronze and recorded 8:53.64, while Bentaline finished at 9:06.55.
With most of the best performers in Lima now over 20, Bentaline, at 19, remains the second best behind 18-year-old Alemayo.
