Inzikuru voted Uganda's top sports personality for 2005

Ugandan track queen Dorcus Inzikuru has been voted as the east African nation's top sports personality for the year 2005 by Uganda Sports Press Association (USPA) over the weekend.

The World and Commonwealth Games 3,000m Steeplechase champion shrugged off a robust challenge from rally ace Riyaz Kurji and fellow long distance star Boniface Kiprop to affix a record third USPA crown onto her already crowded mantelpiece.

The Arua Gazelle, who had won the 2000 and 2002 top sports personality, was presently in Europe preparing for an International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) race. Her sister Grace Ezaru received the awards for her at the belated USPA gala Saturday evening in Kampala.

Inzikuru also took home the 2005 May, June and August monthly trophies before adding the Athlete-Of-The-Year honor for her feats in various international events during 2005.

Her performance during the World Championships in Helsinki, Finland was undoubtedly the most memorable sporting highlight of the year, when she won a gold medal at the inaugural women's 3,000m steeplechase race to become Uganda's only gold medalist since late John Akii Bua in 1972.

Commonwealth 10,000m race gold medalist Boniface Kiprop and daring rally ace Riyaz Kurji were the runners up and will look to emulate Inzikuru over the year 2006. The best sports personality of 2004 was U.S.-based professional boxer Kassim Ouma.

Source: Xinhua