Talkmore Nyongani cruises to victory in Dakar (© Mark Ouma)
Dakar, SenegalZimbabwe’s Talkmore Nyongani is out to maintain his 400m winning streak when the IAAF World Athletics Tour resumes with the Meeting International d'Athletisme de la Ville de Dakar on 17 and 18 April.
The Dakar meet is the only stop on the 25-meeting World Athletics Tour that takes place in Africa. It accords Africa’s finest athletes the opportunity to earn valuable points towards qualifying for the IAAF/VTB Bank World Athletics Final scheduled for Thessaloniki, Greece on 12-13 September.
“This is one of my favourite competitions,” says Nyongani. “The weather is usually nice and warm. Above all the supportive and friendly atmosphere created by the fans that throng the Iba Mar Diop Stadium contributes to making this meet most enjoyable.”
His main challengers will be Nigerian James Godday and Sudan’s All Africa Games champion Ali Nagmeldin Abubakar. Nyongani clocked 45.75 at South Africa’s Yellow Pages Series meet in Ekurhuleni on February 6, and relishes stiff competition.
“The pressure motivates me to step up my game. Victory will place me in good stead for invitations to other Grand Prix meets where I can earn points towards qualifying for the World Athletics Finals in September,” Nyongani explains.
Chepkirwok and Montsho looking to defend
Another defending champion Abraham Chepkirwok (Uganda) returns to defend his 800m title. He faces a strong Kenyan challenge from Gilbert Kipchoge and the youthful Richard Kiplagat who had some fine performances during his European indoor campaign.
Botswana’s All Africa Games 400m champion Amantle Montsho, also the winner here last year, is the best bet for victory among athletes from the IAAF High Performance Training Centre in Dakar. The Malian pair of Ibrahima Maiga (400m Hurdles) and Kadiatou Camara (100 and 200m) are expected to make an impressive start to their season.
Kamara renews her rivalry with Ghana’s former Africa double sprints champion Vida Anim. From her base in Cologne Germany, Anim reckons she has overcome the knee injury that limited her progress last year.
“My indoor competition went well. I am looking forwards to a promising start to the outdoor season culminating with the World Championships in Berlin,” says Anim.
In strong early season form, Kaba best hope for the home team
For the home crowd, Senegal’s best hope for victory is on the infield where African Triple Jump champion and Olympics Long Jump finalist Badji Ndiss Kaba will be in action. Ndiss has no illusions about the pressure that rests on his broad shoulders.
He proved he was up to the task when he leaped to a season opener of 8.10m at the South Africa Senior Championships in Stellenbosch last month. This is a mere ten centimetres shy of his career best achieved at the Italian Olympic training facility in Sestriere five years ago.
“I have never started the season with a leap of over eight metres. Since I will be focusing on the long jump this season I want to take my game to the next level,” says Kaba. With All Africa Games champion Gable Garenamotse, Italy’s Nicola Trentin, and Algerian Issam Nima in the contest, Kaba has his work cut out.
Emboldened by his recent silver medal feat at the World Cross Country Championships, the fast finishing Ugandan Moses Kipsiro starts as favourite to win the 3000m. His path to victory will be seriously tested by Ethiopia’s World Indoor 1500m champion Deresse Mekonnen, Tarek Mubarak Taher (Bahrain), and Kenyan Shadrack Korir.
Action again begins on Gorée Island on Friday
Saturday’s action will be preceded by what is expected to be a thrilling encounter in the Shot Put on Gorée Island on Friday. Jamaican Dorian Scott defends his title against America’s World indoor and outdoor champions Christian Cantwell and Resse Hoffa respectively.
The spontaneous excitement Hoffa aroused among spectators whenever he took to the circle when he won the event in 2007, indicates who the young Senegalese fans will be rooting for. The European Indoor silver Medallist Denise Hinrichs is expected to give German defending champion Nadine Kleinert a run for her money in the women’s Shot Put.
NB: See 'related content' for more on the Shop Put competition on Gorée Island.
Mark Ouma for the IAAF
