South Africa, Senegal and the host Kenya were the first Gold medal winners on Day One of the 17th African Senior Athletics Championships held at the at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi, Kenya today.

Kenya ended Ethiopia’s dominance in 10,000m after Wilson Kiprop led Kenya to gold but Uganda’s Moses Ndiema Kipsiro spoiled the party by nipping in front of Kenyans Geoffrey Mutai and Mathew Kisorio to take away with silver medal.

Kiprop won the race in a time of 27:32.91 with Kipsiro second in 27:33.37 to take silver and Mutai settled for bronze with 27:33.83 and Kisorio fourth in 27:56.71.

An excited Kiprop dedicated his gold medal to his teammates after the race:

“It was embarrassing in Addis Ababa during the last championships because most of the Kenyans were even lapped. It was good to revenge in style and I dedicate this victory to the Kenya team and wish them all the best in the remaining races,” said Kiprop.

In Addis Ababa in 2008, former world cross country12km gold medallist, Gebre Gebremariam led an Ethiopia’s 1-2-3 sweep.

South Africa however stole the show from the hosts after 1-2-3 sweep of medals in the men’s Shot Put.

African record holder Burger Lambrechts won the first gold medal of the championships with an effort of 18.63 with compatriots Roelof Potgieter and Orazio Cremona clinching silver and Bronze.

There was no stopping West Africans dominance in the sprints event. Nigerian women dominated the 100m women with Blessing Okagbare leading the qualifiers from the two heats while Obinna Metu was the fastest in the men’s semifinals clocking10.37 seconds.

In the women’s 100m hurdles, Senegal’s Gnima Faye recorded the fastest qualifying time of the event at 13.58 seconds to set up a straight fight for gold in the finals with Seun Adigun of Nigeria, who cruised into the final in 13.59 seconds, the second fastest qualifying time of the two semi-finals[Read More]