The 2022 African Athletics Championships began on June 8 in Côte d’Or with the coronation of South African Ischke Senekal in the shot put, but also the silver medal of Gabonese Carine Mekam in this discipline. The surprise of the day came from the non-qualification of the Ivorian Arthur Gue Cissé for the 100m final.
The African Athletics Championships made their big comeback on June 8, 2022, after a chaotic 2018 edition in Asaba, a 2020 edition in Algeria canceled due to Covid-19 after several reversals and this 2022 edition initially planned for Cameroon and finally organized at the Côte d’Or Sports Complex (Mauritius).
These 22nd African Championships thus delivered their first medals, in particular in throws: weight for the women and hammer for the men.
Carine Mekam puts Gabon back on the map
A prolific debut for South Africa as in hammer Allan Cumming took gold with a best throw at 69.13m, while his compatriot Tshepang Makhethe (68.75) finished second ahead of Egypt’s Alaa Eldin El Ashry (68.24).
In weight, it was Ischke Senekal who was the best (16.40m), another South African, Zonica Lindeque, being in bronze (15.79).
But the sensation came above all from the silver medal of the Gabonese Carine Mekam, with a throw of 15.87. ” It’s wonderful because it was too hard, I was too stressed, with too much pressure and my competitors. I led the contest. But afterwards she [Senekal, Ndlr] passed in front of (laughter). But it was too good! There was a great atmosphere and it ended with a medalsavors this mother of three children who, at 37, is pleased not to have stopped her career. After giving birth, I broke my record and I continue. I thought I had to stop, that I had no more strength. But I still have a lot to do “. Mekam clinched his country’s first podium since Ruddy Zang Millama snatched the 100m title in 2012.
Hiccup for Arthur Cissé
A 100 meters of which it was the series then semi-finals this Wednesday, as well in men as in women. At the finish, big disappointment for Arthur Gue Cissé, 5th in his half with a time of 10 seconds 30 far from his best time (9.93). The Ivorian, victim of a cramp, will not see the final when he could dream of the title.
The Kenyan Ferdinand Omanyala, holder of the African record (9.77), quietly settled for a 10.07 to qualify. The South African Akani Simbine, another big favorite over the distance, also passed without incident (10.09).
Less expected, the Cameroonian Emmanuel Eseme (10.19) and the Mauritian Noa Bibi (10.24) will defend their chances of a podium this Thursday, June 9.
Aminatou Seyni makes an appointment
Among the women, the Nigerian Aminatou Seyni will also be there. The athlete, banned from the 400 meters because of her hyperandrogenism, continues to progress in the 100 m with a new series record (11.07). A time that puts her in the lead before the final, ahead of Gambian Gina Bass (11.08) and South African Carina Horn (11.08), also winners of their respective semi-finals.
Finally, over 10,000 meters, Ethiopian Mogos Tuemay finished golden in 29 minutes, 19 seconds and 1 hundredth, ahead of his compatriot Chimidesa Debele Gudeta (29:22.74) and Kenyan Abraham Longosiwa (23:23.02).
For the second day, medals are expected in ten events, including the men’s and women’s 100m, the men’s long jump and the women’s 5,000m.
Interview by Christophe Jousset,