The African Championships in Douala, Cameroon, have showcased the athletic prowess of Nigeria and Kenya as they continue to dominate and amass medals across various events.
The first three days of competition, held from June 21-23, have seen remarkable performances, historical victories, and emerging stars.
Nigeria’s Ese Brume made history by becoming the first athlete to win four long jump titles in the African Championships.
Brume, a two-time world medallist, clinched her fourth title with a jump of 6.73 meters, narrowly beating Burkina Faso’s Marthe Koala. South Africa’s Danielle Nolte took bronze with 6.44 meters.
In the women’s discus, Nigeria achieved a podium sweep. Ashley Anumba led the charge with a throw of 59.30 meters, followed by Obiageri Amaechi with 58.80 meters, and Commonwealth Games champion Chioma Onyekwere with 57.93 meters. This dominance recreated the podium placement from the 2016 championships.
Kenya’s rising star, Sarah Moraa, stole the spotlight in the women’s 800m, winning her first continental crown in 2:00.27. She was closely followed by her teammate Lilian Odira, who clocked 2:00.36.
Moroccan Soukaina Hajji completed the podium with 2:00.91. In the men’s 800m, Alex Kipngetich Ngeno secured victory for Kenya with a time of 1:45.02.
Kenyan long-distance runners faced tough competition from Ethiopia. In the women’s 5000m, Fentaye Belayneh and Wubrist Aschal secured gold and silver, respectively, while Djibouti’s Samia Hassan Nour took bronze.
The men’s 10,000m saw Ethiopia’s Nibret Melak and Gemechu Dida claiming gold and silver, with Kenya’s Roncer Kipkorir Konga finishing third.
In the sprints, Gambian sprinter Gina Mariam Bass Bittaye continued her dominance by winning the women’s 100m in 11.14 seconds, edging out Liberia’s Maia McCoy.
Maboundou Kone of Cote d’Ivoire took bronze. Liberia’s Joseph Fahnbulleh made history by winning the men’s 100m, becoming the first sprinter from his country to achieve this feat at the African Championships.
South Africa’s Miranda Coetzee defended her title in the women’s 400m, clocking 51.16 seconds. In the men’s 400m, Senegal’s Cheikh Tidiane Diouf emerged victorious with a time of 45.23 seconds.
In the 400m hurdles, Botswana’s Victor Ntweng and Kemorena Tisang led the field, securing gold and silver, respectively.
The championships also saw impressive performances in field events. Nigeria’s Chukwuebuka Enekwechi won his third consecutive shot put title with a throw of 21.14 meters. Algeria’s Larbi Bourrada claimed his sixth decathlon title with 7447 points.
In the women’s hammer throw, Algeria’s Zahra Tatar took gold with a throw of 67.82 meters, edging out Nigeria’s Sade Olatoye.
The mixed 4x400m relay witnessed a thrilling race, with South Africa’s team overcoming deficits to win gold in 3:13.12. Nigeria and Botswana claimed silver and bronze, respectively.
Botswana’s relay team, anchored by multiple world medallist Letsile Tebogo, set a national record in the men’s 4x100m heats with a time of 38.19 seconds, securing a spot for the Olympics. Nigeria dominated the women’s 4x100m heats, posting 43.58 seconds.
As the African Championships continue, Nigeria and Kenya remain the teams to watch, consistently showcasing their athletic talent and determination on the continental stage.
Photo: World Athletics
