Moraa, Kiplimo star as Africans shine

Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo and Mary Moraa of Kenya were the standout performers as Africa enjoyed great success on the penultimate day of the track and field competition at the Commonwealth Games on Saturday.

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Kenya was the biggest winners with seven medals-two gold, two silvers and three bronze, while Nigeria and Uganda claimed one gold each with Ghana getting only its second medal of the Birmingham games.

Twenty one year old Kiplimo sped away from Kenyan duo of Nicholas Kimeli and Jacob Krop to win the men’s 5000m in 13:08.08. His efforts saw him become the third Ugandan to compete the 5-10 000m double after Joshua Cheptegei in 2018 and Moses Kipsiro 12 years ago in Delhi.

Just like he had done in the longer race, Kiplimo’s finishing power proved too strong for the rest of the field with Kimeli settling for silver in 13:08.19 while Krop timed 13:08.48 for bronze.

Moraa then upset the formbook with a stunning victory in the women’s 800mfinal. World silver medallist Keely Hodgkinson was the odds on favourite to win on home soil while Laure Muir was also in contention.

But they had not counted on an inspired Moraa who started off like a rocket covering the first 200m in 27seconds before slowing down and dropping back to the back of the pack at the bell.

Moraa had one more trick up her sleeve working her way back to contention with 120m to go before powering past Hodgkinson and Muir to win in 1:57.07.

Africa clinched silver and bronze in the women’s 200m with Nigerian teenage star Favour Ofili placing second behind Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson-Herah who won in a new games record of 22.02s. Ofili clocked2251s while Olympic silver medallist Christine Mboma of Namibia won bronze in 22,80s

In the men’s final, Joseph Paul Amoah gave Ghana only its second medal of the games when he clinched bronze in 20.49s ahead of Cameroon’s Emmanuel Eseme and Nigeria’s Udodi Onwuzurike came in sixth in 20.76s.

Nigeria’s Eucharia Njideka Itiazi started the African gold rush winning the women’s F55-57 shot put final in a new games record of 10.03m. The 48 year old clinched victory with a fifth throw to finally stand atop the podium while Cameroon’s Arlette Mawe Fokoa won silver in 9.38m while Ugochi Alam clinched bronze in 9.30m.

Then Kenya’s Emily Ngii set a new African record on the way to winning bronze in the women’s 10 000m Race Walk event.

The African champion continued her good form this year timing 43:50.86 to finish behind Australia’s Jemima Montag who set a new games record of 42:34.30 and India’s Prinyanka whop set anew personal best time of 43.38.83.

Kenya’s reputation as the kings of steeplechase has suffered in the last two major championships with the East Africa nation losing both the Olympic and world title and Abraham Kibiwott won here after a frantic finish.

Kibiwott strained every sinew to hold off India Avinash Sable in a furious dash for home winning in 8:11.15. Sable clocked 8:11.20 with former World under 20 champion Amos Serem claiming bronze in 8:16.83. Defending champion Conseslus Kipruto had to settle for sixth place in 8:34.96.

There was even more drama in the men’s 1500m as former Timothy Cheruiyot and Abe Kipsang came up against newly crowned World champion Jake Wightman.

The Scot kicked for home taking the lead with 100m to go but Cheruiyot gradually reeled him in going past him with 20 metres from the finish but unbeknown to both of them, Australian Oliver Hoare was closing in on the them and he pipped the Kenyan right on the line to win in 3:30.12.

The 26 year old Kenyan settled for silver in a season’s bets time of 3:30.21 while Wightman got bronze in 3:30.53

South Africa’s sprint sensation Zeney van der Valt set a new personal best on the way to winning bronze in the women’s 400m hurdles. The 22 year old finished string moving from sixth to third in the last 80 metres.