Africa Junior Championships open in Ouagadoudou - Day One Report
Friday 10 August 2007
South Africa’s Keenan Watson and Emebt Etea of Ethiopia won their events in convincing style on the opening day at the Africa Junior Athletics Championships in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
The competition has attracted over 500 athletes from 30 African countries. It is part of the continent’s preparations for the 2008 World Junior Championships in Bydgoszcz Poland. The Burkinabe spectators lived up to their reputation, cheering any athlete who performed well regardless of their gender or nationality.
Men’s long Jump
Watson took a commanding lead in the men’s Long Jump with an opening leap of 7.54m. He followed it up with two consecutive 7.75m. He bettered the Championships record from 7.55m. Watson extended his lead with a 7.79m effort in the fifth round.
At no stage of the contest did his lead come under any serious challenge. Fellow South African Ethan Alexander (7.52m) was second ahead of Tunisian Mohammed Yassine Chayeb (7.44m).
“AIthough I came to this competition confident I would do well, I did not expect to take the lead at the beginning. The lead and the support from the crowd helped me relax and enjoy me event,” says Watson.
Women’s 3000m
Meanwhile on the track Ethiopia and Kenya renewed their intense rivalry in the women’s 3000m. Kenyans Jackline Chebet and Emmy Chepkirui surged to the front ahead of Ethiopia’s Emebt Etea and Bezeneshe Uregesa. Even as Chepkirui dropped to the back of the quartet midway through the race, Chebet refused to yield to the Ethiopian pressure.
With barely 600m to the finish Etea shifted gear accelerating past Chebet. Uregesa overtook Chebet at the bell. The Ethiopians mounted a spirited sprint over the last 300m. Etea stopped the clock at 9:07.53, to Uregesa’s (9:12.10), Chebet’s (9:20.59) and Chepkirui’s 9:29.69.
Men’s 3000m steeplechase
The Kenyans got even in the men’s 3000m Steeplechase where Abel Mutai and Patrick Terer used an aggressive front running technique to hold back Ethiopia’s Yacob Jarso and Legese Lamiso. A series of fartleks wore down the field with only Jarso staying in touch with the Kenyan.
Jarso’s brave effort paid off as he got past Terer in the last lap. However Mutai held him off in the exciting sprint for the line to claim the gold medal in a time of 8:29.76. Jarso clocked 8.29.99 to Terer’s 8:34.59 and Lamiso’s 8:47.97.
“These Ethiopians are now challenging us in steeplechase. This is serious,” says a perturbed Mutai. “When I saw Terer drop back, I knew I was carrying a heavy burden on my shoulders. I was never going to let an Ethiopian beat us in this event.”
In the only other final on the opening day, Mali’s Mariam Traore (36.50m) won the women’s discus. Libyan Ebtehal Aboud (36.22m) followed ahead Burkina Faso’s
Rose Nacoulma (25.19m)
Sprints semi finals
The 100m and 400m semi finals produced some promising times. Ethiopian defending champion Galcha Wutere (10.76) could only finish third being Zimbabwe’s Gabriel Mvumvure (10.47). Earlier on South Africa’s All Africa Games silver medalist Constance Mkenku blew away the field in the women’s 100m in a time of 11.58.
Kenyans appear to be on the march to regains prominence in 400m. Pamela Jelimo (55.31) outclassed all other semi finalists by over two seconds. In the men’s Sylvester Kirwa (47.60) and Julius Kirwa (47.23) were clear winners in their respective heats. However Ghana’s Issah Awudu (47.77) and Botswana’s Pako Serebi (48.27) showed their potential to upset the Kenyan party
Mark Ouma for the IAAF
MEN
3000m Steeplechase
1 Abel Mutai (Kenya) 8:29.76
2 Yacob Jarso (Ethiopia) 8.29.99
3 Patrick Terer (Kenya) 8:34.59
Long Jump
1 Keenan Watson (South Africa) 7.79 (+2.1) CR
2 Ethan Alexander (South Africa) 7.52 (+1.1)
3 Mohammed Yassine Chayeb (Tunisia) 7.44
WOMEN
3000m
1 Emebt Etea (Ethiopia) 9:07.53
2 Bezeneshe Uregesa (Ethiopia) 9:12.10
3 Jackline Chebii (Kenya) 9:20.59
Discus
1 Mariam Traore (Mali) 36.50m
2 Ebtehal Aboud (Libya) 36.22m
3 Rose Nacoulma (Burkina Faso) 25.19m