By Leslie Koroma
Edna Kiplagat wins Gold at the World Track & Field Championships in Russia The 14th Edition of the IAAF World Athletics Championships kicked off very well for the African continent with Africa taking the first Gold at the games as Edna Ngeringwony Kiplagat of Kenya the defending Champion in the Women’s Marathon won in a time of 2hrs:25mins:44seconds (2:25:44) making her the first ever woman to repeat as Marathon Champion at the Games.
Mo Farah leading the way in the 10,000 meters Kiplagat who won the last Women’s Marathon in Daegu South Korea in 2011 seemed a bit off in the early part of the race as she and other athletes battled humid conditions in Moscow, which caused a number of athletes to throw in the towel giving up on the race, however she persevered and with a final kick in the last few kilometers of the race she reached deep and made history, winning the first Gold at the Championships and repeating as world champion.
Meanwhile Ethiopia’s Ibrahim Jelian and Paul Kipngetich Tanui gave race favorite Mo Farah of Great Britain a run for his money in the men’s 10,00 meters race as they sprinted with the double Olympic gold medalist down the homestretch to place 2nd and 3rd respectively behind the British phenom adding to Africa’s medal haul at the games.
Meanwhile Ethiopia’s Ibrahim Jelian and Paul Kipngetich Tanui gave race favorite Mo Farah of Great Britain a run for his money in the men’s 10,00 meters race as they sprinted with the double Olympic gold medalist down the homestretch to place 2nd and 3rd respectively behind the British phenom adding to Africa’s medal haul at the games.
Montsho of Botswana In the Mens 100 meters; Africa will be represented in the semi finals later today August 11th by Anaso Jobodwana of South Africa who came in 2nd behind Jamaica’s Usain Bolt in Heat 7 of the preliminary rounds along with Gabriel Mvumvure of Zimbabwe who clocked his race at 10.28sec behind Kemah Bailey Cole of Jamaica and Christopher Lemaitre of France in Heat 1 of the prelims.
In the Women’s 400 meters Amantle Montsho who won her Preliminary Heat in a comfortable Fashion in a time of 50.75 seconds will be joined by fellow African’s in Regina George of Nigeria who came in second behind Montsho in Heat 5 and Omolara Omotoso also of Nigeria who was 4th in Heat 1, Tjipekapora Herunga of Namibia who was 5th in Heat 4 and Amy Mbacke Thiam of Senegal who came in 4th in Heat 2.
In the Women’s 400 meters Amantle Montsho who won her Preliminary Heat in a comfortable Fashion in a time of 50.75 seconds will be joined by fellow African’s in Regina George of Nigeria who came in second behind Montsho in Heat 5 and Omolara Omotoso also of Nigeria who was 4th in Heat 1, Tjipekapora Herunga of Namibia who was 5th in Heat 4 and Amy Mbacke Thiam of Senegal who came in 4th in Heat 2.
Blessing Okagbare Day 2 of action is underway with Blessing Okagbare of Nigeria a favorite to win the Women’s 100 meters title and Gold Medal winning her Heat in 11.03 seconds. She is in good company with Murielle Ahoure of the Ivory Coast also winning her Heat in 11.22 seconds beating Carmelita Jeter of the USA and Gloria Asumnu of Nigeria completing Africa’s hope at the Women’s 100 meters Semi Finals coming in 3rd in Heat 4 with a time of 11.22 seconds.
RSS Feed