It’s been an incredible weekend of athletics, particularly for Kenya. We take a look at which African stars have been the talk of the athletics world…
Phenomenal Faith shatters 1500m world record – Florence Diamond League
The performance of the weekend was, without doubt, Faith Kipyegon’s phenomenal world record in the 1500m in Florence. The Kenyan had almost done it all – two Olympic golds and two world titles. Just the world record eluded her… until Friday night. She’d made mention of the record being in her heart and mind before the Florence Diamond League and was determined to make it a reality. The mom of one duly blitzed around the track in 3:49.11 to obliterate the previous mark which Genzebe Dibaba set at 3:50.07 back in 2015, so also becoming the first woman to dip under the 3-minute 50 mark. An elated Kipyegon was embraced by her fellow competitors on the track as she took in her extraordinary achievement.
Teen queen leads the world in the 3000m steeple chase – Florence Diamond League
Sembo Almayew got the better of a top-quality field to take five seconds off her personal best time and with that, top honours in the 3000m steeple chase.
Her time of 9:00.71 is the fastest in the world this year and saw her comfortably staving off the challenge of Kenya’s world junior champion Jackline Chepkoech and fellow Ethiopian Zerfe Wondemagegn, who was just overtaken by Chepkoech after the final barrier.
Almayew had been determined to dip under nine minutes for the first time. But at just 19 years old, there’s plenty of time for that.
Ta Lou powers to 100m victory – Florence Diamond League
It was a fairly chilly night for the sprinters who always prefer balmy conditions. Nevertheless, Ivory Coast’s Marie-Josee Ta Lou earned a sub-11-second victory for the continent in the women’s 100m. After a good start, the 2017 world championship silver medallist powered to the front of the pack and built on that lead in the final few metres to win in 10.97 seconds. Not quite the 10.78 she ran last month that placed her second quickest in the world this season so far, but impressive nonetheless in the cool conditions.
African men continue to challenge in the 100m – Florence Diamond League
While there was no African victory in the men’s 100m, Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala and South Africa’s Akani Simbine continued to show they’ll be in the mix for sprint honours come the world championships in July. It was American Fred Kerley who followed up his victory in Rabat a week earlier with a win in 9.94, with Omanyala second in 10.05, while Simbine was fourth in 10.09.
National record for Egypt’s Hemida – FBK Games
Last July, Bassant Hemida became the first Egyptian woman to win gold in the 100m at the Mediterranean Games. She followed that up with another gold in the 200m, setting a new national record in the process. On Sunday, she went even quicker in the longer of the sprints at the FBK Games World Athletics Continental Tour meet in the Netherlands. Having finished second in the 100m earlier in the afternoon, the 12-time national champion outgunned Dutchwoman Lieke Klaver and American Kayla White to win the 200m in yet another national record time of 22.41.
Botswana teen takes top honours in Hengelo – FBK Games
Three athletes from Botswana were part of the men’s 400m field at the FBK Games, with an age gap of 17 years between the oldest (Isaac Mawala) and youngest (Busang Collen Kebinatshipi). It was Kebinatshipi whose impressive speed down the final 50m of the home straight saw him not only getting the better of his compatriots but also American Vernon Norwood on the line. The 19-year-old won in a time of 45.01 with South Africa’s Zakhiti Nene third in a season’s best 45.17. Nowhere close to a world-leading time but an impressive result for the Botswana teenager nevertheless.
Excellent Ethiopians complete clean sweep – Stockholm Marathon
Last year on the streets of Stockholm, Kenya’s Felix Kirwa was sent the wrong way but still managed to win the race, despite running an extra kilometre. This year there was no such chaos in the Swedish capital – and the day belonged to Ethiopia. The East African nation boasted the top three finishers in both the men’s and women’s races. Ashenafi Moges took top honours in the men’s race in 2 hours 10.32 while Sifan Melaku claimed the women’s title in 2:30.39 – with a traditionally clad Swedish duo on hand to accompany them along the final stretch.