Ethiopia flexed trademark endurance and drive in the 10,000 meters race final to clinch gold and silver medals at the ongoing 21st Africa Athletics championships in Asaba, Delta State.
The Kenyan team which comprised of 2016 Africa Junior Cross Country champion Kipsang Temoi, fast-rising Vincent Rono and Josephat Bett led the race for most part of the laps but a turn of pace in the finishing stages saw Ethiopia’s Jemal Mekonnen cross the line in a time of 29:09.17s, followed by country man, Andamalak Belilu Beata to edge the Kenyans out to lead the pack while Uganda clinched the third place for bronze through Timothy Toroitich who finished in 29:11.87.
They were presented with their medals by the Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung and the executive governor of Delta state, Patrick Okowa.
The race came after hitches for Team Kenya that saw them spend the night in Lagos having failed to secure a connecting flight to Asaba, the hosting venue.
Other teams, including Uganda, Morocco and Ivory Coast, had to spend two days at Lagos after the Local Organizing Committee got overwhelmed by the arrival visitors for the event.
Close to 52 countries are expected to feature in the elite tournament that would end on August 5.
South Africa are the defending champions of the African Senior Athletics having hosted and won the last edition on home soil in Durban.
And Team Nigeria’s hopes of medals were dashed after marquee athlete Blessing Okagbare pulled out of the 100m and 200m sprint events.FOLLOW fb.me/jaiyeorieblog m.me/jaiyeorieblog ... spill TEA ABOUT THE TOPIC ABOVE.... Easy on Shade #jaiyeorie
The Kenyan team which comprised of 2016 Africa Junior Cross Country champion Kipsang Temoi, fast-rising Vincent Rono and Josephat Bett led the race for most part of the laps but a turn of pace in the finishing stages saw Ethiopia’s Jemal Mekonnen cross the line in a time of 29:09.17s, followed by country man, Andamalak Belilu Beata to edge the Kenyans out to lead the pack while Uganda clinched the third place for bronze through Timothy Toroitich who finished in 29:11.87.
They were presented with their medals by the Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung and the executive governor of Delta state, Patrick Okowa.
The race came after hitches for Team Kenya that saw them spend the night in Lagos having failed to secure a connecting flight to Asaba, the hosting venue.
Other teams, including Uganda, Morocco and Ivory Coast, had to spend two days at Lagos after the Local Organizing Committee got overwhelmed by the arrival visitors for the event.
Close to 52 countries are expected to feature in the elite tournament that would end on August 5.
South Africa are the defending champions of the African Senior Athletics having hosted and won the last edition on home soil in Durban.
And Team Nigeria’s hopes of medals were dashed after marquee athlete Blessing Okagbare pulled out of the 100m and 200m sprint events.FOLLOW fb.me/jaiyeorieblog m.me/jaiyeorieblog ... spill TEA ABOUT THE TOPIC ABOVE.... Easy on Shade #jaiyeorie
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