The 2022 African Athletics Championships ended on June 12 in Côte d’Or with Kenya taking first place with 23 medals, 10 of which were gold. Ten titles that allow them to precede South Africa (36 medals including 9 gold). A closing ceremony of the Championships held, this evening, at the Côte d’Or National Sports Complex, celebrated the outstanding performances and achievements of the athletes.
Kenya’s success, it owes it to a last day of success with half of its ten gold medals won. Jarinter Mawia Mwasya in the women’s 800 meters (2:02.80), Abdel Kipsang Belet in the men’s 1,500 meters (3:36.57), Samuel Gathimba in the men’s 20km walk, the same result from his compatriot Emily Ngii in the women’s 20km (1:34.30), and finally the inevitable Julius Yego in the javelin throw (79 meters 62). Nigerian Aminatou Seyni on 200 meters and the silver medal of the Cameroonian Emmanuel Alobwede on the same distance.
South Africa was not left behind on Sunday thanks to the 400 meters: a victory in the women’s 4×400 meters relay (ahead of the Kenyans) and especially the 400m hurdles titles of Zenéy van der Walt (56 seconds) and Sokwakhana Zazini (49.42). It should be noted that the latter beat the Algerian Abdelmalik Lahoulou (50.10), the title holder.Senegal embellishes its record
Algeria has had another great day in Mauritius, with the victory of Hichem Bouhanoun in high jump (2.15 meters). With 9 podiums and 5 wins, the Algerian delegation 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 them gold), for example.
The last day of competition was 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), improved its results. The Cameroonian Véronique Kossenda Rey is 3rd (13.35).
Cameroon added silver to its table, thanks to the beautiful second place of Emmanuel Alobwede on 200 meters. The sprinter, in 20 seconds 61, finished behind Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo (20.26) but ahead of South Africa’s Clarence Munyai (20.69), one of the favorites in the race.
In the women’s race, without surprise, Nigerian Aminatou Seyni managed to beat the competition in 23.04 seconds. After silver in the 100m, she added gold in the 200m, proving that she has a future outside the 400m, a distance from which she is deprived due to the new World Athletics rules concerning hyperandrogenic athletes.
The President of the Republic of Mauritius, Mr Prithvirajsing Roopun; the Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sports and Recreation, Mr Stephan Toussaint; the President of the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA), Mr Hamad Kalkaba Malboum; the President of the Organising Committee, Mr Giandev Moteea, and other personalities were present on Sunday.
Mr Moteea congratulated the winners and commended the athletes for their outstanding performances and announced that the 23rd African Senior Athletics Championships will be held in 2024 in Cameroon. He conveyed his best wishes to Cameroon for hosting the next edition.
President Malboum underlined that the holding of the event in Mauritius is evidence of the solidarity and brotherhood of the country to the African continent. This undertaking, according to him, will further enhance Mauritius’ relations with African countries. He expressed satisfaction as regard the organisation of the Championships, the level of the games, the smooth running of the event as well as maintenance of discipline and respect by the athletes during the games. He congratulated all the participants and added that he looks forward to the next edition in Cameroon.
