 Nyorai kupfuurira kweiyi ndima - Uchitomi akasvika pakukwirira kwake kwemitambo muna 1997 ndokuisa nguva dzakanakisisa dzoupenyu hwose dza 3:43.13 maminitsi nokuda kwe 1500 m uye 8:26.48 maminitsi nokuda kwe steeplechase chiratidzo chokupedzisira chinouya sorutivi rwokumwe kukunda kweMitambo Yenyika. Mubairo wake wekutanga wepasi rose mumutambo uyu wakaratidzwa nekukunda menduru yegoridhe mumitambo yeEast Asian Games muna 1997. Kubudirira kwake munhangemutange yezvikwiriso zvakapfuurira kusvikira muna 1998. Kutanga akawana menduru yesirivha pa1998 Asian Athletics Championships muFukuoka, achipedzisa kumashure kweSaudi Arabia Saad Al-Asmari. Mumitambo yeFBK muHengelo akamhanyisa nguva yechipiri yekukurumidza pabasa rake pa8: 28.04 maminitsi. Chimiro chake chakachengetedzwa kusvikira muna December, akatora rukudzo rukuru rwebasa rake pa1998 Asian Gamesnechiito chokukunda menduru yegoridhe. 