by Larry EderIn its fourth day, the African Athletics Championships continues to highlight some of the finest talent on the African continent. We have been grateful to Eveyln Watta for her fine daily columns on the entirety of the African Athletics championships, both its reality (and challenges) and its promise as well.
Two golds for South Africa, Chepkirui adds African title to Commonwealth glory
South African Khotso Mokoena, the commonwealth games champion sprung back for gold in the men’s triple jump on the penultimate day of action at the African championships in Marrakech, after his silver in the long jump two days ago.
His country mate Cheyne Rahme grabbed the gold in the men’s pole vault in an African record of 5.41m.
Kenya’s Joyce Chepkirui fresh from winning the 10000m Commonwealth games title just two weeks ago was in sublime shape winning the African championships with yet another last second effort in a depleted women’s 10 000m field.
South africa
Mokoena finally won the continental title that had eluded him in three past attempts with his opening attempt, the only man to go past the 17m mark of the field of 12.
“I worked for this for so long especially on my run ups in the lead up to the jumps. I had difficult last three years in Berlin and a change of coach who gave me a new lease of life when I was almost quitting,” said the 29 year old who won silver at the Beijing Olympics. Nigerian Tosin Oke settled for bronze in 16.97 as Roger Haitengi won Namibia’s first medal, bronze with the 16.72m leap.
Rahme finally got his hankered championship medal boosting South Africa’s gold haul to eight consolidating their lead at the top of the medal standings, as he thwarted Mohammed Amin Romdhana’s efforts to win his country her third consecutive continental title. Romdhana won silver just ahead of Moroccan Mouhcine Cheaouri both recording identical 5m jumps.
Chepkirui adds second gold after Glasgow
Disappointedly, only three of the 50 nations represented in Marrakech, entered at least an athlete for the women’s race, shamefully so in what is traditionally considered an African event.
“Am used to racing a big filed which also makes it a lot easier than when you have few runners it is like you are at the end of the race when you are actually just starting as the pace is quite competitive, “said Chepkirui , an established road racer who won the race in 32:45.27 as Emily Chebet settled for silver in 32:45.28 ahead of Ethiopian Belaynesh Oljira, the bronze winner in 32:49.39.
Chepkirui and Yalew paced for most of the race alternating positions at the head of the single file of four. The third Ethiopian Abayechewe Tegest fell off the pace barely at the halfway mark just around the same time Moroccan Sammah Khadija who could not endure the East Africans pace and the sweltering conditions with the temperatures recorded at 37 degrees called it quits on the race of six runners.
At the bell Chepkirui had it all wrapped up before Chebet eased past at the final bend but in a repeat of the final at the Hampden Park the road racers’ speed carried her through to the gold.
“I came here looking for the title and I have it. It’s been a great season,” she added as looks to resume her road racing in the Netherlands next month.
Kenyans position for 800m, 1500m sweeps
World champions Asbel Kiprop(1500m) and Eunice Sum(800m) will lead Kenya’s hoped sweeps on the final day of competition.
Kiprop, the 2008 Olympic champion who joined the team after missing out on selection for the Commonwealth games impressed topping the qualifying semi-final in 3:43.87 as he tactfully ensured his younger compatriot Ronald Kwemoi, qualifies second, reducing the pace for the world junior record holder to step through.
Kwemoi, the silver winner favorably qualified second in 3:43.93 just ahead of Souleiman Ayanleh of Djibouti second in Benin. Commonwealth games champion Kenyan James Magut sailed through second in 3:54.99 behind Moroccan Yassine Bensghir(3:54.98).
“I am in good shape and ready to continue with my meal hunt. It is good to see the talented Kwemoi and Magut in great shape to as we head to the final. Am really happy to see every year some great athletes coming up in the 1500m,”said Kiprop.
Sum, the commonwealth winner usual composed front running style got her through the first semi final in 2:02.43 but it was compatriot Agatha Jeruto who topped the qualifying rounds with a daring 1:59.88 in scorching conditions.
Former world champion Janeth Jepkosgei qualified behind Tiggst Assefa(2:00.94) in 2:01.13.
Selected results
400m hurdles women semifinal
1. Wenda Nel RSA 55.76
2. Fransisca Koki KEN 55.93 NR
3. Lamiae Lhabz MAR 58.10
400m hurdles women semifinal 2
1.Amaka Ogoegbunam NGR 56.49
2.Hayat Lambarki MAR 56.70
3.Anneri Ebersohn RSA 56.84
4.Audrey Nkamsao CMR 58.64
5.Florence Wasike KEN 59.91
800m women semifinal 1
1. Eunice Sum KEN 2:02.43
2.Lididya Goshu ETH 2:03.15
3.Abiye David NGR 2:08.58
800m women semifinal 2
1.Agatha Jeruto KEN 1:59.88
2.Malika Akkaoui MAR 2:00.84
3.Noelie Yarigo BEN 2:02.09
800m women semifinal 2
1. Tigst Assefa ETH 2:00.94
2.Janeth Jepkosgei KEN 2:01.13
3.Liliane Nguetsa CMR 2:09.00
200m men semifinal 1
1.Ncinciihli Titi RSA 20.48
2.Jammeh Adama GAM 20.59
3.Idrissa Adam CMR 20.64
200m men semifinal 2
1.Wilfred Koffi CIV 20.32 NR
2. Isaac Makwala BOT 20.34
3.Titus Mukhala ZAM 20.88
200m men semifinal 3
1. Carvin Nkanata KEN 20.47
2.Divine Oduduru NGR 20.72
3.Solomon Afful GHA 20.85
1500m men semifinal 1
1.Mekonnen Gebremedhin ETH 3:54.73
2.Yassine Bensghir MAR 3:54.98
3.James Magut KEN 3:54.99
1500m men semifinal 2
1.Asbel Kiprop KEN 3:43.87
2.ronald Kipkemboi KEN 3:43.93
3.Souleiman Ayanleh DJI 3:44.12
10000m women
1.Joyce Chepkirui KEN 32:45.27
2.Emily Chebet KEN 32:45.28
3. Belaynesh Oljira ETH 32:49.39
Triple Jump men
1.Khotso Mokoena RSA 17.03m
2.Tosin Oke NGR 16.97m
3.Roger Haitengi NAM 16.72m
Pole Vault men
1.Cheyne Rahme RSA 5.41m CR
2. Amine Romdhana TUN 5.00m
3.Mouhcine Cheaouri MAR 5.00m
