Senegal's 400m World Champion Amy Mbacke Thiam (723) (© Getty Images)
Sunny weather and the promise of top class athletics brought the Independence Day crowds to the Leopold Senghor Stadium in Dakar on the afternoon of 4 April for the Meeting International d'Athletisme.
At least 45,000 spectators joined Dakar's highest dignitaries in enthusiastically supporting a cast of athletes, drawn from the city's IAAF High Performance Training Centre, and countries as far away as Belarus.
The highlight of the night was a sub 10 performance in the 100m from Abdul Aziz Zakari (GHA), but unfortunately his 9.98 was wind assisted (+3.5 mps). The biggest cheer of the night came when Senegal's 400m World Champion Amy Mbacke Thiam, stormed through the field to win the 200m, just 30 minutes after a narrow defeat to compatriot Fatou Bintou Fall (52.02 to 52.00)at 400m. Slovenia's Jolanda Ceplak cruised to victory in the 800m, clocking 2:04:45.
"Tonight was a very low-key race. I was asked to come and run here to join in the celebrations and it fitted in with my plans," said Ceplak.
"I'm now getting on a midnight plane back home to Slovenia and it will be training as usual tomorrow.
"I'm very pleased that I did run, you have to begin your season somewhere and having done it in less than ideal conditions at least I know I have plenty of strength in me," concluded Ceplak.
France's 1996 Olympic Pole Vault was present in Dakar. Jean Galfione, the winner of the Pole Vault in Atlanta '96 took part in an exhibition event yesterday.
Morocco's Nezha Bidouane, winner of the World 400m Hurdles title in 2001 did not make her comeback as expected but watched the action from the stands instead.
Results -
MEN
100m (+3,5)
1-Abdul Aziz Zakari (GHA) 9.98, 2-Uche Emodolu (NGR) 10.08, 3-Idrissa Sanou (BUR) 10.15
200m (nul)
1-Abdul Aziz Zakari (GHA) 20.58, 2-Joseph Batangdon (CMR) 20.76, 3-Oumar Loum (SEN) 20.80
400m
1-Eric Milazar (MRI) 46.04, 2-Labidi Soufiene (TUN) 46.41, 3-Saliou Mbaye (SEN) 48.69
800m
1-David Lelei (KEN) 1:47.94, 2-Ahmed Ismail (SUD) 1:48.35, 3-Abdoulaye Wagué (SEN) 1:48.43
3000m
1-Ezekiel Kemboi (KEN) 8:05.37, 2-David Nyaga (KEN) 8:05.63, 3-Pius Muli (KEN) 8:06.20
110mH
1-Amadou Diouf (SEN) 14.20, 2-Pierre Kapfer (FRA) 14.21, 3- Valeri Komenan (CIV) 14.67
400mH
Ibrahima Maiga (MLI) 51.43, 2- Jean Dominique Diémé (SEN) 52.20, 3- Alioune Konaté (SEN) 52.21
Long Jump
Younes Moudrik (MAR) 8.15 (+3,3), 2- Kader Klouchi (FRA) 8.02 (+0,8), 3-Yahya Berrebah (MAR) 7.99 (+2,4), 4- James Beckford (JAM) 7.91
High Jump
1-Andrei chubsa (BLE) 2.23m, 2-Johann charmant (FRA) 2.15m, 3- Idrissa ndoye (SEN) 2.05
Women
100m (2.4)
Rosa Rakotozafy (MAD) 11.39, 2-Makaridja Sanganoko (CIV) 11.42, 3-Atanana Delphine (CMR) 11.42
200m (3.6)
1-Ami Mbacké Thiam (SEN) 23.60, 2-Aminata Diouf (SEN) 23.76, 3-Rosa Rakotozafy (Mad) 23.77
400m
1-Fatou Bintou Fall (SEN) 52.00, 2-Amy Mbacké Thiam (SEN) 52.02, 3-Hortense Bewouda (CMR) 52.92
800 m
1-Jolanda Ceplack (SLV) 2:04.45, 2-Mina Ait Ammou (MAR) 2 :04.61, 3-Janeth Jepkosgei (KEN) 2 :04.81
100mH (1.6)
1-Gnima Faye (SEN) 13.79, 2-Soulama Aichata (BUR) 14.06, 3-Amina Sall (SEN) 14.14
400mH
1-Karlene Gaughton (CAN) 58.95, 2-Carole Kaboud (CMR) 59.40, 3-Gnima Touré (SEN) 59.89
Long Jump
1-Kène Ndoye (SEN) 6.62 (3.2), 6.54 (1..2) (new national record), 2-Françoise Mbango (CMR) 6.43, 3-.Aurélie Felix (FRA) 6.27
IAAF & Oumar Ba
