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News15 Sep 1999


Myles-Mills brings lustre back to Ghanaian sprinting

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MylesMills brings lustre back to Ghanaian sprinting
By Mark Ouma

15 September 1999 - Johannesburg Stadium, South Africa - Explosive starts gave Ghana’s Leonard Myles-Mills, Mercy Oku (Nigeria) and William Erese (Nigeria) the crucial edge that powered them to their first gold medals at the All Africa Games (AAG) in Johannesburg last night.

Stepping out of the shadows and into the limelight, Myles-Mills won the men’s 100m which was the highlight of the day. He clocked 9.99, to finish ahead of Nigeria’s Francis Obikwelu (10.01), Namibia’s Frank Fredricks (10.10), and Nigerians Deji Aliu (10.11 ) and Innocent Asonze (10.19).

Myles-Mills was delighted at finally turning the tables on the Nigerians who have dominated the continent’s sprints for a long time. He is the first Ghanian since the days of Ernest Obeng and Ohene Karikari in the late 1970s to win gold at a continental competition.

"At last l have won a gold medal at an Africa championships. I am happy to have won this time," said Myles-Mills who was a bronze medallist at last year’s Africa championships in Dakar, Senegal.

"I have been lying in the shadows of the Nigerians for a long time. It is great that Frank took part in the competition. He is a great athlete and l am sure his commitment to the success of the games was what motivated him to compete even though he is not fully fit," said Myles-Mills.

Oku beat her rivals at the start to win the women’s 100m in a career best of 11.03.She ran her previous personal best of 11.09 in Seville at the World championships last month. Cameroon’s Leanie Mani broke the Nigerian grip of the event when she clinched the silver medal in 11.24. Endurance Ojokolo was third in 11.25, just ahead of teammate Uduak Ekah (11.26).

"This is the first time l have competed in these games and l am so happy to come away with a gold medal. My church minister Prophet Temitope Joshua prayed for me and l am happy our prayers have been answered," said the Lagos based sprinter.

Although he has lost his Africa 110m hurdles record early this year to South Africa’s Shaun Bownes, Erese has finished the year on a high winning the event in 13.73. Madagascar’s Randsriamihaja Bertoz was runner up in 13.85 , with Nigerian Kehinde Aladefa third in 13.86.

"I am happy Bownes broke the record. It has created a climate of competition which is healthy for improving the standard of the event. The old record of 13.53 was too slow as it does not rank in the top 50 in the world. Next year we will all go after lowering the new record of 13.39," said Erese.

Senegalese Tacko Diouf won the women’s 400m hurdles in 55.69. Surita Febbraio (South Africa) was second in 57.11, ahead of Onanuga who clocked 58.34.

Kenya’s Kennedy Ochieng posted the fastest time in the men’s 400m semi finals with a time of 45.11 seconds. He finished ahead of Sunday Bada (Nigeria), Ibrahim Wade (Senegal) and Arnaud Malherbe (South Africa) who clocked 45.75, 45.94 and 45.98 respectively. The other heat was won by Zimbabwe’s Phillip Mukomana (45.57) with Kenyan Julius Chepkwony (45.83) and Clemeny Chukwu (45.85) finsihing second and third respectively.

"I am confident l can break the West African monopoly of the medals in the 400m. My plan is to run a sub 44.8 in the finals tomorrow," said Ochieng.

South Africans added two golds to their medal tally. Hestrie Storbeck-Cloete won the high jump clearing the bar at 1.96m. Burkina Faso’s Irene Tiendrebeogo was second in 1.85, while South Africa’s Phillipa Erasmus was third in 1.80m.

Frantz Kruger won the discus with a throw of 61.02. Teammate Frit Potgieter took the silver medal with a 60.59 effort, while Glenn Conjungo (Central African Republic) was third with a throw of 57.09.

Egypt’s Hatem Mersal won the men’s long jump with a leap of 8.09. Teko Folligan (Togo) and Mark Awere (Ghana) were second and third in 8.00 and 7.96 respectively.

While West Africans stole the show in the sprints and hurdles, the East Africans asserted themselves in the middle and long distance races.

Ayelech Worku won the women’s 5000m in 15:38.22. In a sprint for the finish line, South Africa’s Elana Meyer outpaced Kenya’s Vivian Cheruiyot to take the silver medal. She clocked 15:42.76 to Cheruiyot’s 15:42.79.

Nonetheless the fifteen year old Kenyan set a record of her own. A bronze medallist in the 3000m at the World Youth Games in Poland in July, Cheruiyot who collected another bronze medal in the 5000m is the youngest athletes ever to win a medal in track and field athletics at an All Africa Games competition.

"I am young and still have a lot to learn. This is the first year l am competing outside Kenya and l hope to l will improve with time," said Cheruiyot.

The women’s 1500m lokks set to be dominated by Ethiopians and Kenyans as they won both the women’s semi finals. Ethiopia’s Dulecha Kutre won her heat in 4:26.38, with teammate Etuferahu Tarekegne second in 4:28.00 and Jerotu Kiptum (Kenya) third in 4:28.02.

Genet Gebregiotgis (Ethiopia) won the other semi final in 4:32.65. Jackline Maranga (Kenya) was runner up in 4:33.16, while Julis Sakara (Zimbabwe) was third in 4:33.76.

Results from day 2
For other results see the All Africa Games Official Web Site

MEN

100m: 1Leonard Myles-Miles (Ghana) 9.99, 2 Francis Obikwelu (Nigerai) 10.01, 3 Frank Fredricks (Namibia) 10.10,

10000m: 1 Assefa Mezgebu (Ethiopia) 28:12.15, 2 David Chelule (Kenya) 28:13.71, 3 Habie Jifar (Ethiopia) 28:15.11

110m hurdles: 1 William Erese (Nigeria) 13.73, 2 Randriamihaja Berloz (Madagascar) 13.85, 3 Kehinde Aladefe (Nigeria) 13.86,

Long Jump: Hatem Mersal (Egypt) 8.09, 2 Teko Folligan (Togo) 8.00, 3 Mark Awere (Ghana) 7.96,

Discus: 1 Frantz Kruger (South Africa) 61.02, 2 Frits Portgieter (South Africa) 60.59, 3 Glenn Conjungo (Central Africa Republic) 57 .09

Shot put: 1 Burger Lambrechts (South Africa) 19.50, 2 Janus Robberts (South Africa) 19.16, 3 Karel Potgieter (South Africa) 18.90

Hammer: 1 Chris Harmse (South Africa) 74.75, 2 Samir Haouam (Algeria) 65.80, 3 Yamen Abdelmonem (Egypt) 65.25,

WOMEN

100: 1 Mary Nku (Nigeria) 11.03, 2 Leanie Mani (Cameroon) 11.24, 3 Endurance Ojokolo (Nigeria) 11.25,

400m hurdles: 1 Tacko Diuof (Senegal) 55.69, 2 Surita Febbraio (South Africa)57.11, 3 Onanuga Saidat (Nigeria) 58.34,

5000m: Ayelech Worku (Ethiopia) 15:38.22, 2 Elana Meyer (South Africa) 15:42.76, 3 Vivian Cheruiyot (Kenya) 15:42.79,

Pole Vault: 1 Rika Erasmus (South Africa) 3.60, 2 Elmarie Gerryts (South Africa) 3.60,

Javelin: 1Liezel Roux (South Africa) 49.38, 2 Aida Sellam (Tunisia) 48.91, 3 Sorochukwa Ihuafo (Nigeria) 48.24,

High Jump: 1 Hestrie Storbeck-Cloete (South Africa) 1.96, 2 Irene Tiendrebeogo (Burkina Faso) 1.85, 3 Phillipa Erasmus (South Africa) 1.80,

Events for disabled athletes

MEN

200m (Class 46): 1 Niel Louw (South Africa) 23.11, 2 Ajibole Adeoye (Nigeria) 23.17, 3 Vitalis Lansihma (Niger) 23.21

Javelin (Class 42/44):1 Fanie Lombaard (South Africa) 49.34, 2 Ahmed Dahy (Egypt) 46.49, 3 Christopher Moori (Kenya) 46.30,

Discus (Class 54) 1 Leon Labuschagne (South Africa) 23.40, 2 Mohammed Hassen (Egypt) 22.52, 3 Ivan dub Preez (South Africa) 21.61,

Discus (Class 57): 1 Michael Lourens (South Africa) 39.98, 2 Hossam Abdellattif (Egypt) 39.78, 3 Steyn Humphries (South Africa) 31.94,

Discus (Class58): 1 Mahmoud Elattar 54. 57, 2 Lach’heb Tahar (Tunisia) 50.19,m 3 Mohamed Gawad (Egypt) 48.72,

WOMEN

200m (Class 54): 1 Patricia Nnaji (Nigeria) 33.81, 2 Victoria Nnaji (Nigeria) 3644, 3 Renise Van Uys (South Africa) 38.08,

Shot Put (Class 57): 1 Edith Nzuruike (Nigeria) 8.64, 2 Mary Nakhumica (Kenya) 7.32, 3 Nadia Medjmed (Algeria) 7.14,

Shot Put (Class 58): Jabillah Khadija (Tunisia) 8.50, 2 Mervat Omar (Egypt) 8.15,

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