Kenyans continue to shine despite organizational woes at Africa Senior Athletics Championships

Kenyan athletes have been in splendid form in the 23rd edition of the Africa Senior Athletics Championships at the Stade de Japoma in Douala, Cameroon.

Africa Games 800m silver medalist Alex Ngeno Kipngetich won the 800m race on day three of the championships.

Ng’eno made light work of his opponents, leading from the gun to the tape to complete the course in 1:45:02 ahead of Botswana’s Kethobogile Hanguira (1:45.54). Uganda’s Tom Dradriga, who came third in 1:46.01.

His gold medal was the first for Kenya, in the two lap race, in the African championships since David Rudisha’s exploits in 2010 in Nairobi.

In the women’s category, Sarah Moraa mirrored her sister’s legacy and led her compatriot Lilian Odira, the national 800m champion to a 1-2 podium finish.

Moraa won the gold in 2:00:27 followed by Odira with a silver in 2:00.36. Morocco’s Soukaina Hajji spoiled the podium finish for Kenya after claiming bronze in 2:00.91.

Odira aims to spend some time with her family before joining Team Kenya to the Olympics.

“I’ll spend a brief time with my family before heading to the Kenyan Olympic camp to prepare for the Paris Games,” she said.

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Following the shoes of his elder brother Amos Serem, the junior Edmund Serem clinched silver in the men’s 3,000m steeplechase.

Serem won silver in 8:21.94 behind Uganda’s Leonard Chemutai (8:21.30), with Mathew Kosgei taking bronze in 8:21.98.

Boniface Mweresa missed the medal after finishing 4th in the 400m men at 45.62 where Senegal’s Cheikh Diouf (45.23), Botswana’s Lee Eppie (45.39), and Nigeria’s Samuel Ogazi (45.47) secured the top three spots.

Complains galore

At the same time, the competition has been making news for all the wrong reasons, causing several top athletes to pull out citing poor organization.

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The event has been criticized for its lack of proper transportation, inadequate facilities, and poor topography for the athletes' respective disciplines.

A video circulating online shows officials signalling the start of races with a wooden starter clapper instead of modern starter pistols.

Many of the athletes who have pulled out of the event have voiced their frustrations on social media, calling for better treatment of athletes and more investment in sports Infrastructure.

Some of the most notable withdrawals from the competition include Cote d'Ivoire's Marie Josée Ta Lou- Smith, Nigeria's Favour Ofili and Rosemary Chukwuma, and South Africa's Shaun Maswanganyi who did not start (DNS) their respective races.

Ta Lou-Smith complained of discrimination, citing that other teams were transported with security escorts while others used taxis.

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Similarly, Nigerian athlete Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, who won gold in the shot put, complained that the topography was not level for the event.

The event’s curtains will roll down on Wednesday, June 26.

Ghana won a bid to host the 2026 African Athletics Championships after winning a 12 to 3 vote against Botswana.