Ethiopia struck the first GOLD medal at the 21st edition of the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Senior Championships which took off on Wednesday, August 1st, at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria.
It was a 1-2 for the East African nation as Jemal Vimer Mekonnen stormed to GOLD in a time of 29:08.01, while Andamlak Belihu Berta followed in 29:11.09. Uganda’s Timothy Toroitich settled for Bronze in 29:11.87.
Meanwhile, the men and women’s 100m heats kicked off competition at the African Championships, with Marie Josee Ta Lou and Akani Simbine setting the overall fastest times in both categories respectively.
Reigning Commonwealth Games Champion Simbine won Heat 4 in 10.30s to finish ahead of Riffayn Ambdoul Karim (10.48s), Mark Odhiambo (10.61s) and Enoch Adegoke (10.64s).
Ngoni Makusha of Zimbabwe crossed the finishing line in 10.37s to win Heat 5 in 10.37s, as Karabo Mothibi (10.46s) and Emmanuel Yeboah (10.50s) came 2nd and 3rd.
Defending Champion Ben Youssef Meite of Ivory Coast was the man to beat in Heat 1 where he returned a time of 10.41s as 2012 Champion Simon Magakwe and Nigeria’s Ogho-Oghene Egwero placed 2nd and 3rd respectively in 10.42s and 10.52s.
Three-time Nigerian Champion Seye Ogunlewe dominated Heat 6 in 10.42s as Gilbert Maseko of Namibia finished 2nd in 10.44s.
Ivorian National Record (NR) holder Arthur Cisse won Heat 2 after returning a time of 10.43s, with South Africa’s Roscoe Engel placing 2nd in 10.62s. Gambia’s Assan Faye was 3rd in 10.78s.
Ta Lou easily won Heat 1 of the women’s 100m in 11.25s to finish ahead of Ghana’s Janet Amposah (11.63s) and Cassidy Williamson of South Africa (11.79s).
Tebogo Mamatu (11.90s) was the woman to beat in Heat 2, while Nigeria’s Joy Udo-Gabriel stormed to victory in Heat 3 in a time of 11.64s, as Gina Bass of the Gambia followed in 11.74s. Egypt’s Basant Hemida (11.60s), Mercy Ntia-Obong (11.66s) and Halutie Hor (11.77s) were the Top 3 finishers in Heat 4.
