On the way to title No 3 in Bambous - Nigerian Amaka Ogoegbunam (© Clyde Koa Wing)
Nigerian Amaka Ogoegbunam clinched gold medals in consecutive events on the fourth and final day of the Africa Junior Championships at the Germain Comarmond Stadium in Bambous, Mauritius on Sunday.
Ogoegbunam collects three individual titles
First she comfortably won her specialty the 400m Hurdles in a championships record of 58.45. She was then immediately whisked to the far side of the track for the 200m final. There again she prevailed in 25.37.
After that she called it a day and pulled out of the 4x400m relay. Having won the 100m hurdles yesterday, Ogoegbunam stands out as the only athlete to win three individual medals at these championships.
“I was thoroughly exhausted by having won run two consecutive finals,” says Ogoegbunam. “The head wind on the home straight sapped a lot of energy. So I did not have enough time to recover for the 4x400m relay. From now on I am going to concentrate on the 400m Hurdles. It is there that I expect to make my name.”
Even a massive -7.3 headwind doesn’t steal Mhadjou’s joy
The Comoro Island’s Youssouf Mhadjou is the championships’ revelation. Sprinting against a strong headwind of -7.3 metres/second, Mhadjou clocked 22.47 to hand the Comoros their first medal ever in African Athletics. Nigerian’s Ayobani Oyebiyi (22.58) and Adeola Efunsile (22.66) followed. Not even the strong headwind that denied the finalists fast times subdued Mhadjou’s joy.
“I have put the Comoros on the world map,” Mhadjou said. “After I was disqualified in the 100m final, I was determined to make amends in the 200m. This time I relaxed at the start to avoid making a false start and get disqualified again. I am convinced that this is just the starts of many good things to come.”
Semenya and Fredericks complete doubles
South Africans Caster Semenya and Cornel Fredericks each won their second individual gold medals in contrasting styles. Earlier on Semenya’s prevailed in the women’s 800m in a world leading 1:56.72, while Fredericks claimed the gold medal in the men’s 400m Hurdles.
Semenya was denied the comfort of dominating the 1500m race from the front. Throughout the race Ethiopian Kalkidan Gezagne Befrkad and the Kenyan pair of Fancy Cherotich and Victoria Chep’ngeno took turns leading.
The moment of truth came in the last 200m. Semenya surged to the lead and held on to win in a championship record of 4:08.01. Such was the pace of the race she improved her lifetime best by over eight seconds. Befrkad (4:09.36) and Cherotich (4:17.38) followed.
“The headwind made running very difficult,” Semenya said. “So I could not hold onto the lead all the time. I think I will prefer competing in only the 800m at the World Championships in Berlin, Germany.”
Elsewhere, it took a slow motion replay of the closing stage of the 110m Hurdles before Cornel Fredericks (14.36) was confirmed a winner over Nigerian Martins Ogieriakhi (14.42).
“I prepared for the 400m hurdles, but when I can here I found I was to run the high hurdles as well. It is a good way to conclude my years as a junior. From next year on I will concentrate on the 400m Hurdles,” said Fredericks.
Hosts Mauritius has their moment of glory when Jenna Rima gave them their only individual medal of the championships when she prevailed in the energy sapping Heptathlon event having amassed 4336 points. Other women gold medallists on the final day were Ethiopian Genzebe Dibaba Kenini (5000m), Nigerian Ibrahim Blessing (Triple Jump), Kenyan Elizabeth Mueni (3000m Steeplechase), South African Tazmin Brits (javelin) and Egypt’s Walaa Attia (Shot Put).
In the men’s events other gold medallists were Ethiopian Mohammed Aman Geleto (800m), Mohamed Abou Taleb (High Jump), and Dewald van Heerden (Discus Throw). Nigeria won both the men’s and women’s 4x400m relays.
Mark Ouma for the IAAF
Click here for FULL RESULTS
Ogoegbunam collects three individual titles
First she comfortably won her specialty the 400m Hurdles in a championships record of 58.45. She was then immediately whisked to the far side of the track for the 200m final. There again she prevailed in 25.37.
After that she called it a day and pulled out of the 4x400m relay. Having won the 100m hurdles yesterday, Ogoegbunam stands out as the only athlete to win three individual medals at these championships.
“I was thoroughly exhausted by having won run two consecutive finals,” says Ogoegbunam. “The head wind on the home straight sapped a lot of energy. So I did not have enough time to recover for the 4x400m relay. From now on I am going to concentrate on the 400m Hurdles. It is there that I expect to make my name.”
Even a massive -7.3 headwind doesn’t steal Mhadjou’s joy
The Comoro Island’s Youssouf Mhadjou is the championships’ revelation. Sprinting against a strong headwind of -7.3 metres/second, Mhadjou clocked 22.47 to hand the Comoros their first medal ever in African Athletics. Nigerian’s Ayobani Oyebiyi (22.58) and Adeola Efunsile (22.66) followed. Not even the strong headwind that denied the finalists fast times subdued Mhadjou’s joy.
“I have put the Comoros on the world map,” Mhadjou said. “After I was disqualified in the 100m final, I was determined to make amends in the 200m. This time I relaxed at the start to avoid making a false start and get disqualified again. I am convinced that this is just the starts of many good things to come.”
Semenya and Fredericks complete doubles
South Africans Caster Semenya and Cornel Fredericks each won their second individual gold medals in contrasting styles. Earlier on Semenya’s prevailed in the women’s 800m in a world leading 1:56.72, while Fredericks claimed the gold medal in the men’s 400m Hurdles.
Semenya was denied the comfort of dominating the 1500m race from the front. Throughout the race Ethiopian Kalkidan Gezagne Befrkad and the Kenyan pair of Fancy Cherotich and Victoria Chep’ngeno took turns leading.
The moment of truth came in the last 200m. Semenya surged to the lead and held on to win in a championship record of 4:08.01. Such was the pace of the race she improved her lifetime best by over eight seconds. Befrkad (4:09.36) and Cherotich (4:17.38) followed.
“The headwind made running very difficult,” Semenya said. “So I could not hold onto the lead all the time. I think I will prefer competing in only the 800m at the World Championships in Berlin, Germany.”
Elsewhere, it took a slow motion replay of the closing stage of the 110m Hurdles before Cornel Fredericks (14.36) was confirmed a winner over Nigerian Martins Ogieriakhi (14.42).
“I prepared for the 400m hurdles, but when I can here I found I was to run the high hurdles as well. It is a good way to conclude my years as a junior. From next year on I will concentrate on the 400m Hurdles,” said Fredericks.
Hosts Mauritius has their moment of glory when Jenna Rima gave them their only individual medal of the championships when she prevailed in the energy sapping Heptathlon event having amassed 4336 points. Other women gold medallists on the final day were Ethiopian Genzebe Dibaba Kenini (5000m), Nigerian Ibrahim Blessing (Triple Jump), Kenyan Elizabeth Mueni (3000m Steeplechase), South African Tazmin Brits (javelin) and Egypt’s Walaa Attia (Shot Put).
In the men’s events other gold medallists were Ethiopian Mohammed Aman Geleto (800m), Mohamed Abou Taleb (High Jump), and Dewald van Heerden (Discus Throw). Nigeria won both the men’s and women’s 4x400m relays.
Mark Ouma for the IAAF
Click here for FULL RESULTS
