Africa shines at the ongoing IAAF world championships in Korea
0Africa shines at the ongoing IAAF world championships in Korea
Since the inception of the International Association Athletic Federation (IAAF) world indoor championship, it has been a first for Africa all the way as African countries like Botswana and Sudan had their first World Championship in Athletics at the tournament.
The 2011 IAAF world championship in athletes is hosted in Daegu, South Korea. The tournament which will last for nine days (27 August- 4 September) is hosting 1,943 athletes from 203 countries of the world.the thirteenth edition of the tournament is hosted at the Stabul stadium in Korea where the 2002 FIFA world cup was held.
As of now, five African countries is at the top twenty on the result board with Kenya as third on the table with 8 medals( 3 gold, 2 silver and three bronze).Kenya stands at the third position to catch up with United States (9medals) and Russia(10 medals).
Other African countries at the top include; Ethiopia in the seventh position, Botswana, Sudan and Tunisia at the sixteenth position.
The championships won by Kenya so far include :
800 meters men world athlete of the year was won by 22 year old David Lekuta Kudisha in a personal record time of 1.43.91 minutes. Despite injury early this year, Kudisha holds four out of the ten fastest time of the event.
A wonderful performance last year won him two world record as an African Championship last year. November 2010 made him the youngest ever athlete to win the IAAF world Athlete of the year award He formerly holds the world record of 1 minute.41.01sec in the Italian city Rati, last August.
Also, all three medals for the 35 KM women marathon were also won by Kenya; with Botswana’s Beunesh Bekele as the fourth. The winners of this category include:
Edna Ngeringwong Kiplagat –gold (2.28.43)
Priscah Jeptoo – silver (17 seconds later)
Sharon Jemutai Cherop (2.29.14)
IAAF 10,000meter race was also won by Kenya. The winners are :
Vivian Jepkemoi – gold(30 minutes 49.98 seconds)
Sally Kipyego – silver
Linet Chepkwemoi – Bronze
At the steeplechase, Kenya’s Micah chemos cheywa won the bronze medal.
However, it was not only Kenya who has made us proud, but Botswana’s Amantle Montosho the Country’s first ever gold medal at a world champion . The two time African gold medalist over 400m beat defending champion America Allyson Felix who was chasing a 200m- 400m double sprint in Korea with just 0.03 seconds ahead of Felix.
When celebrating, she was quoted to have said ‘ I’m so happy today to win the gold medal. I still can’t believe it. I would like to thank the athlete who made me run faster especially Felix because she has good speed and that made me run faster.’
Also, Abuakar Kaki won for Sudan its first medal in the history of the world championships. Kaki came second after Kenya’s David Kudisha at the 800M men world athlete in a record time of 1.44 41 minute.
Nevertheless, Ethiopia dominated the 10000meter race for men when Ibrahim Jelian and Imane Merga won the gold and bronze medal of the race.
So far so good we have been at the top of the game. So let’s keep our fingers crossed as before September 4. Hopefully, Africa will snatch the rest of the awards.
