Africa to dominate distance races …as World Athletics Championships starts today
Africa athletes will take centre stage when the World Athletics Championships kick off in Oregon today.
The crème de la crème of the continent will be on show with the expectation that they will dominate the middle and long distance races as well the marathons.
A growing group of world class sprinters means the continent will cause a ripple or two in the shorter distances as well with its stellar cast expected to shine.
The long distance races will once again be an East African affair with Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda battling out for glory.
Olympic champion Selemon Barega will take on defending world champion Joshua Cheptegei in the men’s 10,000m with Kenyan trio of Daniel Mateiko, Rodgers Kwemoi and Stephen Waithaka as well as Tadese Worku and Milkesa Mengesha.
In the women’s race, two time 5000m World Champion Hellen Obiri will resume her rivalry with defending champion Sifan Hassan as she hunts for a third world title and a first in 10,000m.
She will have to fend off compatriots Sheila Chepkirui and Margaret Chelimo as well as Ethiopian quartet of Letesenbet Gidey, Ejgayehu Taye, Bosena Mulatie, Girmawit Gebrzihair.
The 5000m will also be a straight shootout battle between East Africans in both the men’s women’s races with Nicholas Kemeli, Jacob Krop leading the Kenyan team against their archrivals from across the border.
Another battle royale is expected in men’s 3000m steeplechase as the reigning World champion Conseslus Kipruto will be up against Olympic champion Soufiane El Bakkali.
The Moroccan ended Kenya’s longstanding hegemony on the race in Tokyo last year and Kipruto will lead a quartet of Kenyans determined to wrestle back control. Add Ethiopia’s Lamecha Girma who is fine fettle this year and you have the perfect mix for incredible competition.
The women’s steeplechase will see a unique battle as a Kenyan quartet led by Beatrice Chepkoech, Celliphine Chespol, Purity Kirui and Jackline Chepkoech take on a pair of naturalized athletes.
Kenyan born Norah Jeruto will be flying the Kazakhstan flag while Winfred Mutile Yavi is running for Bahrain. Add the 2017 World champion Emma Coburn and reigning Olympic champion Peruth Chemutai of Uganda and you have a world class field.
Two time Olympic Faith Kipyegon is favourite to reclaim the 1500m title she relinquished in Doha three years ago while the men’s race will see defending champion Timothy Cheruiyot lead a four pronged Kenyan squad as they face off with Olympic champion and favourite Jakob Ingebrigsten.
While Athing Mu is odds on favourite to win the women’s 800m, Kenya’s Mary Moraa and South Africa’s Prudence Sekogdiso will be in the hunt for medals while Olympic champion Emmanuel Korir, Commonwealth games champion Wycliffe Kinyamal and youngster Emmanuel Wanyonyi will be the favourites in the men’s race.
Despite the absence of Olympic 200m silver medalist Christine Mboma through injury, there will be top sprinting talent on show from Africa led by Nigeria’s Favour Ofili who is fourth fastest woman in 200m this year with a time of 21.96 seconds.
Veteran Ivorian duo of Marie Jose Ta Lou and Murielle Ahoure will again be on show as will Niger’s Aminatou Seyni while Beatrice Masilingi will fly Namibia’s flag in the 200m.
African champion Tobi Amusan will be hoping it will be third time lucky when she competes in the 100m hurdles. The Nigerian track star has finished fourth in her last two major championships in Doha in 2019 and at last year’s Olympics in Tokyo. She is fine form this year having set a new personal best time of 12.41s in Paris.
Newly-minted African champion and record holder Ferdinand Omanyala and Akani Simbine will lead the charge in the 100m. Ghanaian duo of John Paul Amoah and Benjamin Azamati will also be in action as will Liberia’s Emmanuel Matadi and Chudi Onwuzurike of Nigeria.
Liberia’s Joseph Fanbulleh and South Africa’s Luxolo Adams will be the men to watch in the 200m. Adams is ranked fourth after clocking 19.82 seconds while 20 year old Fanbulleh has a seasonal best time of 19.83 seconds to rank fifth in the world this year.
News that Wade van Niekerk will be fit to run in Oregon will no doubt excite fans of the 2016 Olympic champion and world record holder who is a man for the big occasions.
Two time New York Marathon champion Geoffrey Kamworor will lead the Kenyan trio in the marathon with Lawrence Cherono and Barnabas Kiptum will face off with defending champion Lelisa Desisa, Mosinet Geremew and Tamirat Tola.
Kenya’s Ruth Chepngetich will carry her nation’s hopes in the ultimate distance race as she looks to retain her title with Angela Tanui and Judith Korir for company. Ashete Bekere, Gotytom Gebreslase, Ababel Yeshaneh will fly Ethiopia’s flag while Kenyan born Israeli Lonah Chemtai Salpeter will also feature. – SuperSport
