The beautiful South African City of Durban which will also be the host of the 2022 Commonwealth Games will in a weeks’ time play host to the Confederation of African Athletics and a host of African Track & Field Stars for the Senior African Athletics Championships slated for June 22nd – 26th 2016.
Many big names in the African Track world have committed to be in South Africa along with a host of athletes who are seeking to make the Rio Olympics qualification standards for their countries.
Many big names in the African Track world have committed to be in South Africa along with a host of athletes who are seeking to make the Rio Olympics qualification standards for their countries.
What’s interesting and bodes well for the championship is the rise in the sprinting quality of African men and women and that was showcased this week leading to the championships when Wayde Van Niekerk of the host country; South Africa won the 300 meters race at the Racers Club Grand Prix in Jamaica with the third fastest time in history in the event and Muriel Ahoure of the Ivory Coast broke Blessing Okagbare’s 100 meters record.
Prior to this week it was Ben Youssef Meité of the Ivory Coast who officially joined the sub 10 seconds club when he ran a 9.99 seconds in the 100 meters. There have been very impressive Showing by several Nigerian athletes as well as Ghanaians along with the Ivorians and Sierra Leoneans. Not to be outdone the Zambians have a slew of rising stars as is the Burundians, Ugandans and Lesotho.
Perennial power houses such as Kenya and Ethiopia hope to continue their dominance in the middle and long distances, but the Kenyans have been making forays into the sprinting and hurdling sphere surprising many around the world.
The Championships is set to increase in its significance as more and more African nations embrace the sport and put more premium in developing and supporting their athletes who in turn will see the championships as a significant event on the continent and a rite of passage to the elite level for their careers.
Prior to this week it was Ben Youssef Meité of the Ivory Coast who officially joined the sub 10 seconds club when he ran a 9.99 seconds in the 100 meters. There have been very impressive Showing by several Nigerian athletes as well as Ghanaians along with the Ivorians and Sierra Leoneans. Not to be outdone the Zambians have a slew of rising stars as is the Burundians, Ugandans and Lesotho.
Perennial power houses such as Kenya and Ethiopia hope to continue their dominance in the middle and long distances, but the Kenyans have been making forays into the sprinting and hurdling sphere surprising many around the world.
The Championships is set to increase in its significance as more and more African nations embrace the sport and put more premium in developing and supporting their athletes who in turn will see the championships as a significant event on the continent and a rite of passage to the elite level for their careers.
By: Leslie Koroma Sr.
RSS Feed
