Distance runner Boniface Kiprop has been voted the top sports personality of the year at the annual Uganda Sports Press Association (USPA) award gala held in Kampala over the weekend.

The Commonwealth 10,000m gold medalist, who has twice improved on the national record of 5,000m during the 2006 season, beat off the challenges from 2005 winner Dorcus Inzikuru and three other nominees to claim the annual crown.

The other three contenders are distance runner Moses Kipsiro, rally driver Ronald Sebuguzi, and national football team striker David Obua.

First runner up Inzikuru received the sash, crown and plate on behalf of her fellow athlete Kiprop, who was absent at the Saturday event. The prestigious award was handed over by Speaker of Parliament Edward Ssekandi.

It was the second annual crown for Kiprop, who had won his first USPA year award in 2004, and it catapulted him into the rarefied realm of multiple past winners who include rally icon Charlie Lubega and track queen Inzikuru.

Kiprop had also been voted as the east African nation's Athlete of the Year by Uganda Athletics Federation (UAF) in November, 2006, claiming his second UAF award in three years.

Source: Xinhua