Ethiopian Roba Gari upset former World and Olympic 3000m Steeplechase champion Reuben Kosgei to the highlight the third edition of the CAA Grand Prix in the Congolese Capital on Sunday (27).
Gari clocked 8:15.05 to handily beat Kosgei, who reached the line 8:16:20. For the Ethiopian, it was a significant improvement from his previous personal best of 8:30.20 from Stockholm in 2005.
Among the highlights on the women's side of the programme included Amy M'Backe Thiam's 50.95 victory over Nigerian Christy Ekpukhon, Liliana Popescu's narrow 4:15.73 victory in the 1500 over former World Youth champion Siham Hilali from Morocco who clocked 4:15.73.
Athletes from 25 countries competed before a crowd of more than 20,000. Among the dignitaries at the meeting were double Olympic champion and World record holder Hicham El Guerrouj and CAA President M. Hamad Kalkaba, along with several government, civic and community leaders.
With the support of several sponsors, the top four athletes in each event earned prize money - $ 2500 for first place, $2000 for second, $1000 for third and $500 for fourth.
Mohammed Benchrif for the IAAF
Leading Results:
MEN -
100m:
1. Tyree Gailes, USA 10.32
2. Julius Leigh, RSA 10.34
3. Uchenna Emedolu, NGR 10.35
200m:
1. Julius Leigh, RSA 20.65
2. Sherwin Vries, RSA 20.79
3. Tyree Gailes, USA 20.91
400m:
1. Saul Wegopwa, NGR 45.62
2. James Godday, NGR 45.79
1500m:
1. Wesley Cheruiyot, KEN 3:40.68
2. Badr Rassioui, MAR 3:41.12
3. Philip Lagat, KEN 3:41.42
4. Merzak Ould-Bouchiba, ALG 3:41.51
400m Hurdles:
1. Naman Keita, FRA 49.20
2. Pieter Koekomer, RSA 49.87
3000m Steeplechase:
1. Roba Gari, ETH 8:15.05
2. Reuben Kosgei, KEN 8:16.20
LJ:
1. Tony Almond, USA 7.66
DT:
1. Sergiu Ursu, ROM 60.58
WOMEN -
100m:
1. Franca Idoko, NGR 11.25
2. Endurance Ojokolo, NGR 11.42
200m:
1. Franca Idoko, NGR
400m:
1. Amy M'Backe Thiam, SEN 50.95
2. Christy Ekpukhon, NGR 51.11
3. Abugan Folasade Abigeil, NGR 51.49
1500m:
1. Liliana Popescu, ROM 4:15.69
2. Siham Hilali, MAR 4:15.73
3. Bizunesh Urgesa, ETH 4:16.06
4. Carolyne Chepkwony, KEN 4:17.13
TJ:
1. Amy Zongo, FRA 13.57
SP:
1. Vivian Chukwuemerka, NGR 17.36