African Athletics Championships (20th)
Durban, RSA; June 22 – 26
Summary of Middle & Long Distance Events
NOTE: Thanks to CAROLE FUCHS for compiling these results. Recap by RIEL HAUMAN –Ed.
Four women were the stars in the middle and long distances at the African T&F Championships held over five days in the balmy South African coastal city of Durban. All four set championship records, with Kenya’s Alice Aprot also scoring a world-leading performance with her 30:26.94 in the 10,000m, an overwhelming victory and more than a minute faster than the mark achieved by Edith Masai a decade ago. Aprot’s time is also a personal best by almost a minute.
In the 5000m Aprot’s compatriot Sheila Chepkirui broke the championship record of no less a luminary than Almaz Ayana, who ran 15:32.72 at the previous edition of the meet, held in Marrakech, Morocco. Chepkirui clocked 15:05.45, also a personal best.
Former global 800m champion Caster Semenya, the fastest runner over two laps in the world this year, won both the 800m and 1500m (and ran a scintillating anchor leg on South Africa’s winning and national record-setting 4x400m relay), with her most impressive victory coming in the 1500m on the third day of the meet. She easily beat championship record holder Rababe Arafi (MAR) and wiped out the Moroccan’s record with her personal best of 4:01.99 – a mere 0.18 sec slower than Zola Budd’s SA record set in 1984, seven years before Semenya was born.
Semenya also took the 800 on the final day, running an easy-looking 1:58.20 in front of another Moroccan, Malika Akkaouiu.
The fourth championship record came in the women’s steeplechase, where Kenya’s Norah Jeruto beat the previous mark of Hiwot Ayalew Yemmar (ETH), run in 2014, with her 9:25.07.
Only one athlete, Nijel Amos (BOT) in the 800m, successfully defended a title won in Marrakech. Amos, the silver medalist behind David Rudisha at the 2012 Olympic Games, took the gold in 1:45.11 – more than 3 sec faster than in 2014.
In the men’s 10,000m South Africa’s Stephen Mokoka scored an exciting and narrow victory over Kenya’s Wilfred Kimitei in 28:02.97.
MEN –
800m:
Final (24):
1. Nijel Amos, BOT 1:45.11 Gold
2. Jacob Rozani, RSA 1:45.38 PB Silver
3. Rynhardt van Rensburg, RSA 1:46.15 Bronze
4. Boitumelo Masilo, BOT 1:46.16 PB
5. Albertino Mamba, MOZ 1:46.34
6. Sampson Laari, GHA 1:47.62
7. Kabelo Mohlosi, RSA 1:50.00
8. Nyasha Mutsetse, ZIM 1:50.90
Semi-Finals (23):
Heat 1:
1. Nijel Amos, BOT 1:49.91 Q
2. Rynhardt van Rensburg, RSA 1:50.55 Q
3. Kabelo Mohlosi, RSA 1:51.30 Q
4. Moussa Camara, MLI 1:51.59
5. Mohammad Dookun, MRI 1:52.45
6. Dey Dey, SSD 1:52.91
7. Fathi Adam, SUD 1:53.39
Boaz Kiprugut, KEN DQ
Heat 2:
1. Albertino Mamba, MOZ 1:48.36 Q
2. Sampson Laari, GHA 1:48.46 Q
3. Jacob Rozani, RSA 1:48.48 Q
4. Boitumelo Masilo, BOT 1:48.52 q
5. Nyasha Mutsetse, ZIM 1:49.69 q
6. Bacha Morka Mulata, ETH 1:56.21
7. Benedicto Makumba, MAW 2:00.46
Abraham Matet, SSD DQ
Prelims (22):
Heat 1:
1. Nijel Amos, BOT 1:50.19 Q
2. Albertino Mamba, MOZ 1:50.39 Q
3. Moussa Camara, MLI 1:51.08 Q
4. Dey Dey, SSD 1:53.20
…
Heat 2:
1. Benedicto Makumba, MAW 2:02.22 Q
2. Boitumelo Masilo, BOT 2:02.57 Q
3. Rynhardt van Rensburg, RSA 2:02.81 Q
…
Heat 3:
1. Boaz Kiprugut, KEN 1:48.63 Q
2. Sampson Laari, GHA 1:48.80 Q
3. Kabelo Mohlosi, RSA 1:49.94 Q
4. Nyasha Mutsetse, ZIM 1:50.34
5. Fathi Adam, SUD 1:53.82
6. Abraham Matet, SSD 1:54.85
…
Heat 4:
1. Jacob Rozani, RSA 1:49.91 Q
2. Bacha Morka Mulata, ETH 1:50.25 Q
3. Mohammed Dookun, MRI 1:50.88 Q
4. Abraham Thon, SSD 2:02.03
…
1500m:
Final (26)
1. Fouad El Kaam, MAR 3:39.49 Gold
2. Timothy Cheruiyot, KEN 3:39.71 Silver
3. Vincent Letting, KEN 3:40.78
4. Youness Essalhi, MAR 3:41.34
5. Taresa Tolosa, ETH 3:42.23
6. Birhanu Sorsa, ETH 3:43.56
7. Eric Kiptanui, KEN 3:43.81 PB
8. Dumisani Hlaselo, RSA 3:44.53
9. Johan Cronje, RSA 3:45.26
10. Santino Kenyi, SSD 3:45.34 NR
11. Wellington Varevi, ZIM 3:48.40
12. Dey Dey, SSD 3:48.70
Prelims (25):
Heat 1:
1. Fouad El Kaam, MAR 3:46.48 Q
2. Vincent Letting, KEN 3:47.80 Q
3. Birhanu Sorsa, ETH 3:48.43 Q
4. Dumisani Hlaselo, RSA 3:50.58 Q
5. Wellington Varevi, 3:51.70
6. Sylvester Koko, BOT 3:52.31
7. Mohammad Dookun, MRI 3:54.48
8. Moussa Camara, MLI 3:54.76
9. Abraham Matet, SSD 3:55.14
10. Benjamin Enzema Owondo, GEQ 4:11.87
Heat 2:
1. Timothy Cheruiyot, KEN 3:44.44 Q
2. Taresa Tolosa, ETH 3:44.58 Q
3. Eric Kiptanui, KEN 3:44.66 Q
4. Youness Essalhi, MAR 3:44.70 Q
5. Santino Kenyi, SSD 3:47.31
6. Dey Dey, SSD 3:49.63
7. Oskear Komeya, NAM 3:51.55
8. Johan Cronje, RSA 3:56.12
5000m: (26)
1. Douglas Kipserem, KEN 13:13.35 PB Gold
2. Elroy Gelant, RSA 13:15.13 Silver
3. Mangata Ndiwa, KEN 13:16.85 Bronze
4. Getaneh Molla, ETH 13:17.84
5. Peter Lagat, KEN 13:18.78 PB
6. Namakwe Nkhasi, LES 13:21.68 NR
7. Thierry Ndiumwenayo, BDI 13:26.24 NJR
8. Jean-Marie Vianney, BDI 13:31.91
9. Phillip Kipyeko, UGA 13:32.77
10. Dejene Debla, ETH 13:33.06
11. Abdallah Mande, UGA 13:34.52
12. Onesphore Nzikwikunda, BDI 13:34.54
13. Teklit Teweldebrhan, ERI 13:36.00
14. Sesebo Matlapeng, BOT 13:43.57 PB
15. David Kulang, SSD 13:54.69 NR
16. Khalid Hamed, SUD 14:20.24
17. John Atem, SSD 14:20.40 PB
18. Emanuel Bakatukonka, COD 14:41.52
19. Tendai Zimuto, ZIM 14:51.80
20. Yach Wol, SSD 14:52.73 PB
21. Carnisous Wenjere, ZIM 16:12.55 PB
10,000m (22):
1. Stephen Mokoka, RSA 28:02.97 Gold
2. Wilfred Kimitei, KEN 28:03.18 Silver
3. Namakwe Nkhasi, LES 28:06.33 NR Bronze
4. Jemal Yimer, ETH 28:08.92 PB
5. Fikadu Haftu, ETH 28:09.21 PB
6. Stephen Arita, KEN 28:09.66
7. Isail Gallet, TAN 28:13.46 PB
8. Abraham Habte, ERI 28:18.18
9. Abdallah Mande, UGA 28:21.92
10. Gladwin Mzazi, RSA 28:24.50
11. Areka Mekonen, ETH 28:37.41 PB
12. Fabiano Sulle, TAN 29:09.75
13. John Atem, SSD 29:53.67 NR
14. Happy Ndacha Mcherewje, MAW 29:59.94 PB
15. Jacob Mugomeri, ZIM 30:05.75 PB
16. Stephanus Kaudinge, NAM 34:05.63 PB
17. Jauodo, MOZ 34:05.63 PB
3000m S/C (24):
1. Chala Beyo, ETH 8:21.02 Gold
2. Gigsa Tolosa, ETH 8:22.79 Silver
3. Abraham Kibiwott, KEN 8:24.19 Bronze
4. Phenus Kipleting, KEN 8:26.11
5. Hamid Ezzine, MAR 8:29.36
6. Jacob Araptany, UGA 8:29.60
7. Rantso Mokopane, RSA 8:35.02
8. Malek Ben Amor, TUN 8:47.31
9. Abdalla Targan, SUD 8:47.47
10. Sesebo Matlapeng, BOT 8:58.93
11. Hossny Ismail Eisa, SUD 9:08.99
WOMEN –
800m:
Final (26):
1. Caster Semenya, RSA 1:58.20 Gold
2. Malika Akkaoui, MAR 2:00.24 Silver
3. Emily Cherotich, KEN 2:00.70 Bronze
4. Silvia Chesebe, KEN 2:01.43
5. Rabab Arafi, MAR 2:01.49
6. Noelie Yarigo, BEN 2:02.68
7. Amina Bakhit, SUD 2:02.83
8. Lidya Melese, ETH 2:04.89
Prelims (25):
Heat 1:
1. Caster Semenya, RSA 2:02.01 Q
2. Rabab Arafi, MAR 2:02.32 Q
3. Amina Bakhit, SUD 2:02.44 q
4. Noelie Yarigo, BEN 2:02.94 q
5. Tigist Ketema, ETH 2:04.61
6. Halima Nakaayi, UGA 2:04.97
7. Violette Ndayikengurukiye, BDI 2:10.11
Heat 2:
1. Silvia Chesebe, KEN 2:03.96 Q
2. Lidya Melese, ETH 2:04.83 Q
3. Agnes Abu, GHA 2:05.64
4. Liza Kellerman, RSA 2:07.82
5. Tarchoun Hayfa, TUN 2:09.49
6. Maryjoy Mudyiravanji, ZIM 2:20.75
Fiori Asmelasha, ERI DQ
Heat 3:
1. Emily Cherotich, KEN 2:03.35 Q
2. Malika Akkaoui, MAR 2:03.36 Q
3. Dinke Firdisa, ETH 2:06.52
4. Tsepang Sello, LES 2:15.03
5. Sounia Hamdan, SUD 2:17.87
1500m (24):
1. Caster Semenya, RSA 4:01.99 CR*/PB Gold
2. Rabab Arafi, MAR 4:03.95 Silver
3. Adanech Anbesa, ETH 4:05.22 PB Bronze
4. Fantu Worku, ETH 4:05.84 PB
5. Siham Hilali, MAR 4:07.39
6. Janet Achola, UGA 4:08.11 NR
7. Beatha Nishimwe, RWA 4:08.75
8. Sela Jepleting, KEN 4:09.14
9. Judy Kiyeng, KEN 4:11.60
10. Alawia Andal, SUD 4:29.51
11. Lavinia Haitope, NAM 4:31.11
12. Merhawit Ghide, ERI 4:48.10
13. Divine Makaya-Asani, COD 5:18.59
*Championship record; previous 4:05.80, Rababe Arafi, MAR, 2012
5000m (22):
1. Sheila Chepkirui, KEN 15:05.45 CR*/PB Gold
2. Margaret Chelimo, KEN 15:07.56 PB Silver
3. Dera Dida, ETH 15:15.26 PB Bronze
4. Meskerem Mamo, ETH 15:18.06 PB
5. Kidas Alema, ETH 15:39.27 PB
6. Cavaline Nahimana, BDI 15:47.90 NR
7. Racheal Zena Chebet, UGA 15:53.50 PB
8. Nebyat Abraham, ERI 15:55.47 PB
9. Kokob Tesfagabriel, ERI 15:57.54 PB
10. Ndeshimona Ekandjo, NAM 16:28.90 PB
11. Mercy Malembo, MAW 16:48.31 PB
12. Bibiro Ali Taher, CHA 17:32.71 PB
13. Falicia Oyo, SSD 18:27.53 PB
*Championship record; previous 15:32.72, Almaz Ayana, ETH, 2014
10,000m (25):
1. Alice Aprot, KEN 30:26.94 CR*/WL/PB Gold
2. Jackline Chepngeno, KEN 31:27.73 PB Silver
3. Joyline Jepkosgei, KEN 31:28.28 PB Bronze
4. Salome Nyirarukundo, RWA 31:45.82 NR
5. Shure Demisa, ETH 32:14.25 PB
6. Yenenesh Tilahun, ETH 32:17.38 PB
7. Clementine Mukandanga, RWA 33:28.64
8. Ayandu Idossa, ETH 34:34.64
9. Lemlem Teweldebrhan, ERI 34:41.79 PB
10. Ruth Kibreab, ERI 36:10.58 PB
11. Glenrose Xaba, RSA 36:32.37
12. Falicia Oyo, SSD 37:55.31 PB
Racheal Zena Chebet, UGA DNF
Keneilwe Sesing, RSA DNF
*Championship record; previous 31:27.96, Edith Masai, KEN, 2006
3000m S/C (26):
1. Norah Jeruto, KEN 9:25.07 CR*/PB Gold
2. Agnes Chesang, KEN 9:27.22 PB Silver
3. Weyneshet Ansa, ETH 9:39.89 Bronze
4. Eliane Saholinirina, MAD 9:44.50 NR
5. Birtukan Adamu, ETH 9:50.52
6. Saara Martin, NAM 12:05.11 PB
*Championship record; previous 9:29.54, Hiwot Ayalew Yemmar, ETH, 2014
