Blackbird Flies To Daegu

Julius Mutekanga — who ran at The Armory for the LIU Blackbirds and now represents Central Park Track Club New Balance — has been named as one of 13 Ugandans to represent that country at the IAAF World Championships in Daegu, South Korea.

He will compete in the 800-meter run — the event he holds LIU records both indoor and outdoor — after posting a career-best 1:46.30 at the Flanders Cup Ninove in Belgium earlier this month.

Mutekanga's late addition to the Championships resulted in him being left off our initial Worlds' schedule, but he is now on the slate. He will run Friday night at 11:05 pm (New York time).

"Julius has had a storybook season filled with PRs, consistently fast times and podium finishes," said Central Park Coach Devon Martin. "We're really proud that he's run 1:46 in four different international races and already hit the Olympic Games 'B' Qualifier."

Mutekanga first broke 1:47 at a USATF High Performance meet in Los Angeles in May. He matched the feat in Indianapolis, Halifax and then Belgium.

He isn't the only CPTC runner heading to Worlds as Columbia graduate Erison Hurtault will be representing Dominica.

"I'm most impressed with Erison's recent races in the 200 meters and 300 meters," said Martin. "It bodes well for some fast racing in Korea and London."