Ugandan racer Abraham Chepkirwok has clocked one minute 45.14 seconds to finish third in the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Super Grand Prix in Qatar, reports reaching Kampala on Monday.

The Gombe SS student, a bronze medalist at last year's IAAF World Junior Championships in Beijing, China, fell to renowned Kenyan Wilson Bungei and Moroccan Lalou Amine, who dominated the 800m race from the start on Friday.

Chepkirwok's time was the second fastest by a Ugandan runner over the distance, which was just 0.19seconds short of the national record of 1 minute 44.55 seconds set by Julius Acon in Fairfax in 1996.

"He is improving fast. After two races, we are optimistic of seeing a new national record," said his country manager Godfrey Nuwagaba.

The 18-year-old runner has now booked a place at the All Africa Games due July in Algiers, Algeria and the African Junior Championships slated for the same month in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

Chepkirwok has also been preparing for his maiden appearance at the IAAF World Athletics Championships set for August 25th to September 2nd in Osaka, Japan.

The Ugandan runner clocked 1:47.79 to take the bronze in the 800m category at the IAAF World Junior Championships held last August in Beijing, China.

In November 2006, Chepkirwok had been awarded the Upcoming Male Athlete of the East African country by Uganda Athletics Federation (UAF) for his performance in Beijing.

He was nominated last Monday as the top sports personality for April by Uganda Sports Press Association (USPA) for having clocked 1:46.85 to win gold in the IAAF Dakar Grand Prix Meeting on April 28.

Source: Xinhua