Geoffrey Balimumiti is back on the track today with a mission to win a gold medal in the 800m.The 17-year-old will compete in the event’s final at the 2nd Youth Olympic Games held in Nanjing, China.
Balimumiti is up against a quality field at the Nanjing Olympic Sports Centre Stadium.
The final also has American runner Myles Marshall whose personal best time is 21 micro seconds better than Balimumiti’s time of 1:50.43 and Mohamed Elamrani from Morrocco (1:50.26).
Coach Jimmy Issamat said that he had worked out a strategy that be believes can push the runner to glory.
Balimumiti set the new mark as he qualified for the finals during the heats on Friday.
The runner improved from his previous personal best time of 1:53.00.
The runner also registered the third best time in the three heats.
Balimumiti was also one of eight runners who set new personal best times during the heats.
He said after qualifying, “The race was good and I am praying to the Lord to perform better and win a medal,” the ecstatic runner said as his colleagues congratulated him.
By Teddy Nakanjakko, The New Vision