Akani Simbine of South Africa won Gold in the 100m Men’s event on day 2 of the African Athletics Championship in Asaba on Thursday.
Simbine who finished third in Durban two years ago, raced to a comfortable victory in 10.25 secs. Ivorian Gueu Arthur Cisse took the silver in 10.33 secs while South Africa’s Simon Magakwe won bronze in a time of 10.35 secs.
Three-time national champion Seye Ogunlewe finished in fifth with a time of 10.45 secs.
In the 100m Women final, Marie Jose Ta Lou also improved from her last race in Durban to win the race in 11.15 secs ahead of Ghana’s Janet Amponsah in 11.54 secs and national junior champion, Joy Udo-Gabriel in third.
Udo-Gabriel’s win in 11.58 secs is her first ever senior individual medal at the African Athletics Championship following her bronze medal win in the 4x100m relay at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia.
Her compatriot, Mercy Ntia-Obong finished fifth in 11.69 secs.
Commonwealth champion Oluwatobiloba Amusan was in her best again in the 100m hurdles final on Thursday. She cruised to a comfortable win in 12.86 secs.
South Africa’s Rikennete Steenkamp placed second in 13.18 secs for the silver while Rosvitha Okou of Cote d’Ivoire won bronze in 13.39 secs.
Two other Nigerians ran in the final, Grace Ayemoba in fourth and Favour Efe in sixth place.
Meanwhile, 2018 Commonwealth silver medallist Chukwuebuka Enekwechi also won a gold medal in the Men’s Shot Put.
Enekwechi best throw of 21.08 got him the medal while Egypt’s Mohamed Khalifa had a throw of 19.33m and bronze medal was won by Kyle Blignaut from South Africa with a throw of 19.05m.
His compatriot Eke Kalu placed fourth with his best throw of 18.79.
In the Women’s Hammer Throw, Nigeria’s Ogunrinde Temilola won silver with a distance of 67.39 to set a new national record, Zakour Soukaina of Morocco won Gold with a throw of 68.28 while Jennifer Batu finished third in distance of 66.43.
It was a 1, 2 finish for South Africa in the Long Jump Men’s event as Ruswahl Samaai won gold ahead of Luvo Manyonga while Yahya Berabah of Morocco took the Bronze.
It was also a 1,2 for South Africa in the Men’s Discus throw as Victor Hogan and Werner Visser won Gold and Silver respectively while Morocco’s Elbachir Mbarki took bronze.
In the women’s Pole vault event, Tunisia’s Dora Mahfoudhi took Gold ahead of Dina Eltabaa of Egypt while Nesrine Brinis of Tunisia settled for Bronze.
In the 400m Women, Patience Okon-George an Yinka Ajayi will compete alongside South Africa’s Caster Semanya in the final on Friday. While Nigeria’s duo of Edosan Ibadin and Chidi Okezie also qualified for the final of the 800m Men and 400m Men’s event respectively.
