Worldr medallist Christian Coleman stunned the athletics world on Friday (19) when he sped to a 6.37 world record* over 60m at the Clemson Invitational in South Carolina.
If ratified, his performance would take 0.02 off the world record that was set in 1998 – and then equalled in 2001 – by Maurice Greene.
Making his first competitive appearance of the year, Coleman had hinted that something special was on the cards when he won his heat in 6.47.

Africa has had its share of global superstars who have dazzled the world with their performances time and again over the years.

As it was with generations past so it is with the current set of stars that are dazzling the world. They are the best Africa has to offer at this stage, and they are as proven on the global stage as anyone else from any part of the world.

We have painstakingly taken our time to determine and list who we consider Africa’s best at …

Read the Rest of the Story on our latest Issue of African Sports Monthly Magazine (March 2015 Edition) Click link to read …

The star power of Blessing Okagbare; Nigeria’s and Africa’s foremost woman sprinter is obvious with her global standing in Track & Field, which essentially has led to her being recognized in several quarters for her achievement and respectable standing in her home country Nigeria and the African Continent.

First came her recognition by African Sports Monthly Magazine as one of the Top 10 Track & Field Stars of the African Continent, in its March 2015 Edition released on March 8th (International Women’s Day). You can read all about Blessing recognition by African Sports Monthly and where she ranks on the list of 10 on the Magazine’s website or on Magzter the number one global online distributor of digital magazines.

A couple of days later that selection by African Sports Monthly Magazine was followed by her being listed as one of Nigeria’s100 most Influential women by 360nobs.com. 360 Nobs is an entertainment and lifestyle website that keeps track and inform its readers about the latest in Nigeria and beyond.

Team Europe dominated the IAAF Continental Cup that was held in Marrakech, Morocco over the weekend. The Europeans found themselves topping the medals table ahead of the Americas on Day One and continued their rich vein on form yesterday garnering 447.5 points.

Some of Europe’s outstanding performers included James Dasaolu, Dafne Schippers, Barbora Spotakova and Tiffany Porter who ensured her season ended on a high clocking a UK record of 12.51 when she finished second in the women’s 100m huddles after Americas Dawn Harper-Nelson.

Seasoned Jamaican sprinter Veronica Campbell-Brown made the most of Blessing Okagbare’s absence having lost to her at the 2014 Commonwealth Games led an Americas one-two in the women’s 100m, clocking 11:08 to beat Michelle-Lee Ahye with 11:25.

The IAAF Continental Cup, which takes place this weekend (13-14) in Marrakech, Morocco, involves teams from Africa, Americas, Asia-Pacific and Europe and there is a total of US$2,900,000 in prize money being paid by the IAAF*.

Teams

- Each team will be allowed to enter two athletes in each event.

- No athlete shall be allowed to double in the 3000m and 5000m.

- Only one athlete from any one country may compete in each individual event.

Idris Elba arrived in a Heritage Land Rover, before reciting the Invictus poem at the Invictus Games Opening Ceremony in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park this evening.

The Heritage Land Rover carrying Idris Elba during the ceremony has previously carried Her Majesty the Queen and the late Queen Mother during the 1970s/80s.

It is a Land Rover Series IIa – commonly known as a Defender – a British icon that has been evolving for 65 years.

The Land Rover in the Opening Ceremony was built in June 1968 and issued to the British Army on The Rhine.

It was based in Germany until de-mob in 1993, having covered around 4000Km, then donated to the national Army Museum.

It is estimated that more than two million Land Rover Defenders have been bought since the car first appeared in April 1948.

To mark the Bupa Great North Run becoming the first ever running event to reach a historic millionth finish, a spectacular opening ceremony will be hosted on the banks of the Tyne on Thursday 4 September.

The evening will also see the millionth finish achievement officially recognised by the IAAF’s Athletics for a Better World global social responsibility programme.

Ahead of the annual run on Sunday 7 September, the evening will commence with a protocol ceremony hosted by the President of the IAAF, Lamine Diack, and feature some of the most legendary names in the sport.

Brendan Foster, founder of the Great North Run, plus athletics royalty including Haile Gebrselassie, Paula Radcliffe, Tanni Grey-Thompson and Mike McLeod will all be part of the milestone occasion and the unveiling of the First Millionth Finish flag.

The Confederation of African Athletics has announced the Africa team for the 2014 IAAF Continental Cup to be held in Marrakech, Morocco on 13-14 September.

Among the male stars of the team are 800m runners Nijel Amos and Mohammed Aman, world indoor 1500m champion Ayanleh Souleiman and world 1500m champion Asbel Kiprop as well Egypt's Ihab Abdelrahman who leads the 2014 world javelin lists.

On the female side, particularly notable names include Nigeria's Blessing Okagbare and the Ethiopian distance trio of Genzeba Dibaba, Almaz Ayana and Hiwot Ayalew, the latter winning the 3000m steeplechase Diamond Race in Zurich on Thursday.

Beijing, China - In exactly one year the IAAF World Championships, Beijing 2015 will commence.

IAAF President Lamine Diack who is presently in China attending the Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, flew into Beijing today to attend the ‘One Year Countdown Ceremony’.


President Diack was joined by Wang Anshun, Mayor of the Beijing Municipal Government and Liu Peng, China’s Minister of Sport Administration Bureau and President of the Chinese Olympic Committee, along with other distinguished national and city officials representing the member federation and local organising committee.

The IAAF delegation at the ceremony also included General Secretary Essar Gabriel.

A giant countdown clock was unveiled outside the National Stadium, better known as the world famous ‘Bird’s Nest’ which hosted the 2008 Olympic Games. The stadium will be the venue for the nine-day championships from 22 to 30 August 2015.

With just three weeks to go until the Invictus Games, Jaguar Land Rover speaks to three wounded warriors about their recovery from injury and what the Invictus Games means to them.

British Armed Forces team members JJ Chalmers, Mickaela Richards and Derek Derenelagi will go for gold when the Invictus Games athletics takes place at Lee Valley on Thursday 11th September.

The Invictus Games, presented by Jaguar Land Rover, takes place in London from 10th-14th September. Over 400 competitors from 14 nations will compete in nine Invictus sports, plus a competitive Jaguar Land Rover Driving Challenge. 

Tickets priced at £12.85 are on sale now at www.invictusgames.org

The 10th episode of IAAF Inside Athletics is available to watch online now.

This show features an exclusive and in-depth interview with Olympic 800m champion and world record-holder David Rudisha.

IAAF Inside Athletics is hosted by Trinidad and Tobago’s 1997 world 200m champion Ato Boldon, who is now an internationally respected broadcaster.

Fans can interact and ask questions, either on the IAAF World Athletics Club Facebook page or by email to insideathletics@iaaf.org.

Monaco – The ninth episode of IAAF Inside Athletics is available to watch online now.

This show features an exclusive and in-depth interview with Britain’s world indoor 60m champion Richard Kilty.

IAAF Inside Athletics is hosted by Trinidad and Tobago’s 1997 world 200m champion Ato Boldon, who is now an internationally respected broadcaster.

Exclusive to the IAAF, the show appears on the IAAF World Athletics Club Facebook page. Fans can interact and ask questions, either on Facebook or by email to insideathletics@iaaf.org.

To watch the latest episode, ‘like’ the IAAF World Athletics Club on Facebook.

Monaco – The IAAF website www.iaaf.org recorded a huge increase in use from the recently concluded IAAF World Junior Championships, Oregon 2014 over the previous edition of the same Championships two years ago in Barcelona.

The new version of the IAAF website was launched at the start of November 2012 and the figures from Eugene show that it continues to be a resounding success.

Unique users accessing the website in the period from 22-27 July almost quadrupled while the average time a user spent on a page more than quadrupled.

Nigeria and Africa’s number one female sprinter and 100 Meters record Holder Blessing Okagbare is ready to take the stage at the ongoing Commonwealth Games in Scotland beginning tomorrow Sunday July 27th 2014 starting with the 100 meters heats.

Blessing who has been putting up some phenomenal performances at the IAAF Diamond League series, despite silently battling some health issues is the favorite to win Gold in the 100 and 200 meters and the Long Jump. She recently clocked a seasons best of 10.97 seconds at the Monaco Grand Prix and is looking forward to capitalizing off of that seasons best performance at the Track in Scotland.

Monaco - The IAAF has launched a web app telling athletes what they need to know about all aspects of the IAAF’s anti-doping programme.

The IAAF is the first international sports federation to launch a standalone app with detailed anti-doping information.

It is free to access and as a web app it is available on desktop computers, smart phones and tablets.

It can be accessed at: iaaf.org/Antidoping

The information available includes:

- What to expect from a test (whether urine or blood)

- What their rights are

- All about the prohibited list and anti-doping rule violations

- Whereabouts

Nigeria and Africa’s number one female sprinter and 100 Meters record Holder Blessing Okagbare is ready to take the stage at the ongoing Commonwealth Games in Scotland beginning tomorrow Sunday July 27th 2014 starting with the 100 meters heats.

Blessing who has been putting up some phenomenal performances at the IAAF Diamond League series, despite silently battling some health issues is the favorite to win Gold in the 100 and 200 meters and the Long Jump. She recently clocked a seasons best of 10.97 seconds at the Monaco Grand Prix and is looking forward to capitalizing off of that seasons best performance at the Track in Scotland.

Monaco - The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) is pleased to confirm the renewal of its existing broadcasting agreement for the USA with Universal Sports Network.

The extension to the deal which began in 2010 was negotiated by Dentsu, the IAAF’s broadcasting partner for territories outside of Europe and Africa.

Significantly, this announcement comes on the opening day of the IAAF World Junior Championships, Oregon 2014, which is the first IAAF World Athletics Series event to be hosted in the USA since 1992. The championships are being broadcast LIVE exclusively in the USA on Universal Sports and UniversalSports.com.

The partnership, which already covered next year’s IAAF World Championships in Beijing, China, now guarantees coverage in the USA of all IAAF World Athletics Series events through to 2019 including the 2017 and 2019 IAAF World Championships.

The eighth episode of IAAF Inside Athletics is available to watch online now.

This show features an exclusive and in-depth interview with Sanya Richards Ross, the Olympic 400m champion.

IAAF Inside Athletics is hosted by Trinidad and Tobago’s 1997 world 200m champion Ato Boldon, who is now an internationally respected broadcaster.

Exclusive to the IAAF, the show appears on the IAAF World Athletics Club Facebook page. Fans can interact and ask questions, either on Facebook or by email to insideathletics@iaaf.org

The Executive Board (EB) of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) unanimously agreed today that Oslo (Norway), Almaty (Kazakhstan) and Beijing (China)* would progress from the Applicant City Phase to the Candidate City Phase in the bid to host the Olympic Winter Games 2022.

The EB based its decision on a technical analysis of the Applicant Cities’ applications submitted earlier this year. The analysis and subsequent report were made by an IOC-appointed working group of Olympic Games experts who assessed each Applicant City’s potential for successfully staging the Olympic Winter Games 2022. The technical assessment was based on a number of criteria, covering a variety of areas such as venues, transport, accommodation and security.

Each city was encouraged to produce a bid best suited to their own unique circumstances, with plans that reflect their own specific vision for how the Games can benefit their cities and regions and ensure positive, sustainable legacies for their populations. Oslo, Almaty and Beijing have done that:

- Oslo is focusing its bid on youth and building on the great legacy of the Olympic Winter Games in Lillehammer 1994. It hopes to inspire the population to embrace a healthier and more active lifestyle.

- Almaty’s legacy plans centre on providing the conditions to enable the city to become a sports, tourism and convention hub in Central Asia.

- Beijing is seeking to provide an extended legacy for venues built for the Olympic Games 2008. It wants to create a winter sports centre for China and use the Winter Games to act as a catalyst for the further development of the tourism and winter sports industry.

A Seminar for the candidate cities interested in hosting the 2019 edition of the IAAF World Championships took place in Monaco on 3-4 July.

Delegates from the three candidates cites – Barcelona, Doha and Eugene – were presented with full details of all aspects of the organisation of what is considered the 3rd largest sports event in the world. The World Championships gather around 2000 athletes from more than 200 countries over 9 consecutive days in the same city, and organisers need to be ready to accommodate 10,000 officials and volunteers, 3000 accredited broadcasters and media, and ensure that 47 athletics events are organised in such a way as to guarantee top performances which will then be broadcast worldwide to an audience of more than 6 billion people.

Navy Commodore Nesiama(l) and Chief Solomon Ogba. Making The AFN their business venture

The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) have been using their offices to do business with the athletes thereby jeopardizing the chances of ever being neutral and objective in carrying out their duties.

Investigations done reveal that the technical director Navy Commodore Omatseyi Nesiama is acting as an athlete’s representative and giving athletes contract to sign, taking 15% of all their income. A number of home based athletes have been told to sign some even with the threat of losing their places in the national team.

A call to the IAAF reveals that Commodore Nesiama recently registered as an athlete’s representative through the AFN as one is required to be registered via the home federation and this way may avoid taking the ‘IAAF athletes representative examination’.  He uses an agency name called  Soloo Sports Management & Marketing LLC      (the “Representative”) with the address of 11002 Veirs Mill Road, Suite 305, Silver Spring, Maryland 20902, USA and 19 Gbemisola Street, off Allen Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria.

Gibrilla Pato Bangura in training

The Sierra Leone Athletics Association (SLAA) has revealed its team for the forthcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.

The athletics team will consist of nine athletes; five home based in Thomas Vandy, Mariatu Suma, Jimmy Thoronka, Michaela Kargbo and Rebecca Ansumana  whilst the other four will come from based athletes in Gibrilla Pato Bangura, Solomon Bockarie, Adel Sesay and Kathrin Ugo Eke.

Lilongwe, Malawi: Athletics Association of Malawi (AAM) has come under fire for the criteria it used to select the athletics team that will represent the country at this year’s Commonwealth Games scheduled for Glasgow in Scotland.

Last Saturday, AAM reportedly conducted time trials at Kamuzu Institute for Sports in Lilongwe to select athletes that will better represent the country at the games.

But the manner in which selection was done has angered some athletes who took part in the trials who feels cheated by the way the selection process was handled.

According to the country’s online tabloid Nyasatimes the trials were just a hoax as the team for the games had already been picked.

More than a thousand performances in over one hundred different locations across Glasgow will be staged as part of the Cultural celebrations for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Everything from family days out to concerts to thrilling site specific events are included in the huge line-up for Festival 2014 which runs from July 19 to August 3 alongside the Games themselves.

For full information about the Festival 2014 programme please pick up a free brochure which is available across the city or go to www.glasgow2014.com/festival2014

Performances have already been staged all over Scotland as part of Culture 2014, building momentum towards the start of Festival 2014 during Games time in Glasgow before Culture 2014 picks up again with events at the Edinburgh Festivals and beyond.

By: Editor

Monaco - There is little more than a week to go before the first starting gun fires at the 2014 IAAF World Race Walking Cup, which will be held in the Chinese city of Taicang on 3-4 May.

With no global outdoor championship this year, this is the most important event on the 2014 athletics calendar for walkers and many of the world’s top stars of the discipline will be making their way to China for the event.

Russia’s 2013 IAAF World Championships 20km race walk gold medallist Aleksandr Ivanov, Ireland’s Moscow 2013 50km winner Robert Heffernan and China’s London 2012 Olympic Games champion Chen Ding will clash in the shorter of the two senior men’s championship distances.

The senior men’s 50km race features Russia’s Mikhail Ryzhov, Australia’s tree-time Olympic medallist Jared Tallent, who took the silver and bronze medals behind Heffernan over the longer distance in Moscow last summer.

The senior women’s 20km features seven of the top 10 from Moscow, including the Russia’s Anisya Kirdyapkina and China’s Liu Hong, the silver and bronze medallist respectively.

In the junior 10km races, all eyes will be on the Czech teenage talent Anezka Drahotova, who won the European title over the same distance on the track last summer.

Nearly 400 walkers from 50 IAAF Member Federations have been entered across the five races to be contested.

Entry lists as of 24 April are now available (pdf) on the IAAF website:

http://www.iaaf.org/competitions/iaaf-world-race-walking-cup

The IAAF World Race Walking Cup is the third of the five IAAF World Athletics Series events in 2014, and this year also sees the inaugural edition of the IAAF World Relays.