The 2022 African Athletics Championships ended on June 12 in Côte d’Or on Kenya’s first place, with 23 medals including 10 gold. Ten titles that allow him to overtake South Africa (36 medals including 9 gold). Also note this Sunday the coronation of the Nigerian Aminatou Seyni over 200 meters and the silver medal of the Cameroonian Emmanuel Alobwede over the same distance.
Kenya remains the number one nation at the African Athletics Championships. And he owes it to a last good day with half of his ten gold medals won. Those of Jarinter Mawia Mwasya on the women’s 800 meters (2:02.80), Abdel Kipsang Belet on the men’s 1,500 meters (3:36.57), Samuel Gathimba on the men’s 20 km walk, the same result from his compatriot Emily Ngii on the women’s 20km (1:34.30), and finally the essential Julius Yego on the javelin throw (79 meters 62).
South Africa was not outdone this Sunday, however, thanks to the 400 meters: a victory in the women’s 4×400 meters relay (ahead of the Kenyans) and above all the titles in the 400m hurdles of Zenéy van der Walt (56 seconds) and Sokwakhana Zazini (49.42). Note that the latter beat the Algerian Abdelmalik Lahoulou (50.10), the defending champion.
Senegal improves its balance sheet
Algeria, which once again had a great day in Mauritius, with the victory of Hichem Bouhanoun in the high jump (2.15 meters). With 9 podiums and 5 crowns, the Algerian delegation therefore finished fourth in Mauritius 2022 behind Kenya (first, 23 medals including 10 gold), South Africa (second, 36 medals including 9 gold) and Nigeria (third , 11 medals including 5 gold). Far ahead of Tunisia and Morocco (3 medals each, none of which are golden), for example
Final day of competition also beneficial for Senegal which, with the first two places in women’s triple jump (Sangoné Kandji first with 13 meters 76 and Saly Sarr second with 13 meters 42), embellishes its record. Cameroonian Véronique Kossenda Rey is 3rd (13.35).
The Alobwede surprise, the Seyni promise
Cameroon which added money to its table, thanks to the beautiful second place of Emmanuel Alobwede on 200 meters. The sprinter, in 20.61 seconds, finished behind Batswana Letsile Tebogo (20.26) but ahead of South African Clarence Munyai (20.69), one of the race favourites.
On the women’s side, unsurprisingly, Nigeria’s Aminatou Seyni managed the competition in 23.04 seconds. of which she is deprived following the new regulations of World Athletics concerning hyperandrogenic athletes.