Omanyala and Amusan inspire Kenya and Nigeria to Gold in men’s and women’s 4x100m as South Africa’s Miranda Coetzee wins the women’s 400m title

The men’s 400m, oh so close! Botswana’s Bayepo Ndori and Zambia’s Muzala Samukonga go gold, silver, separated by .04! photo by Deji Ogeyingbo, Day 3, 2022 African Champs

It’s Ferdinand Omanyala time, as Kenya’s 4x100m takes gold, RSA taking silver, photo by Deji Ogeyingbo for RunBlogRun, 2022 African Champs

Tobi Amusan loves the feel of gold, as she takes 4x100m for Nigeria! photo by Deji Ogeyingbo for RunBlogRun, 2022 African Athletics Champs

Day 3 of the African Athletics Championships was truly exciting as the 4x100m relay, 800m, and 400m are contested, among others, Deji Ogeyingbo is working 24/7, shooting pictures and writing social media and daily stories so we can geek out on the stars of the Africa!

Omanyala and Amusan inspire Kenya and Nigeria to Gold in men’s and women’s 4x100m as South Africa’s Miranda Coetzee wins the women’s 400m title

Ferdinand Omanyala continued to hug the headlines at the 22nd edition of the African Athletics Championships taking place in Mauritius as the Kenyan anchored his men’s 4x100m team to victory, while Tobi Amusan made it double gold at the championships as the sprint-hurdler gave Nigeria a surprise win.

Omanyala, who before the championships said he wanted to win three Gold in Mauritius, ensured his dream comes to reality as he helped Kenya win their very first relay Gold in the history of the Championships with a time of 39.28s.

South Africa, the African record holders over the distance, were with 100m silver medalist Akani Simbine, but World Junior Silver medalist Benjamin Richardson held off a late surge from Zimbabwe to take Silver in 39.79.

Amusan, the reigning Diamond League champion in the women’s 100m Hurdles, could not believe her eyes, storming to victory for Nigeria in the women’s 4x100m final in a time of 44.45s. 100m Gold medallist Gina Bass ran out of track as she tried to catch up with Team South Africa on the home straight as they settled for Bronze.

In the women’s 400m final, Miranda Coetzee lived up to her favorites tag, delivering a gusto performance to notch the win in 51.82s, thereby ensuring the title Caster Semenya won in Asaba 2018 remains in South Africa’s hands.

The men’s 400m final provided a thrilling finale as it was a straight-up battle between Botswana’s Bayepo Ndori and Zambia’s Muzala Samukonga. It was the latter who dipped on the line to win the men’s 400m in 45. 31s. The Zambian looked spent and had to be taken out by a stretcher after the race. Ndori won Silver with 45.35, and Tunisia’s Mohamed Glassi won Bronze in 45.54.

In the middle-distance finals, Slimane couldn’t contain his joy as he won the men’s 800m for Algeria in 1:45.59, while Nicholas Kiplagat won Silver for Kenya in 1:46.43. Ethiopia’s Amare Tegegn was the man to beat in the men’s 3000m steeplechase final, taking victory in a time of 8:27.38, while his teammate Takele Bikila, who was a minute behind, picked up the silver. Bronze went to Kenya’s Geoffrey Kerwa.

In the absence of Nigeria’s Ese Brume, Burundi’s Christine Koala’s mark of 6.42m was just enough to see her win Gold in the women’s long jump final, while Chioma Onyekwere won the women’s Discus with a mark of 58.19m.