Hugues Fabrice Zango in the triple jump at the African Championships (© Clyde Koa Wing)
World and Olympic bronze medallist Hugues Fabrice Zango successfully defended his triple jump title at the African Championships in Saint Pierre, Mauritius, on Saturday (11).
On another day of strong winds and occasional rain, the world indoor record-holder – who ended the 2022 indoor season on crutches – sailed out to a wind-assisted 17.34m (3.5m/s) in the first round, which held up as the best mark of the competition.
He also jumped 16.86m (2.2m/s) in round four with a more gentle wind, which would have also been sufficient to win from Botswana’s Thalosang Tshireletso, who jumped 16.77m (4.5m/s). Tshireletso ended his series with a wind-legal 16.65m, to break his own national record.
The track action on Friday ended in an upset in the men’s 4x100m as Kenya soundly beat South Africa – the leading sprint nation on the continent, though admittedly not with a full-strength team. Kenya, strengthened by the addition of 100m champion Ferdinand Omanyala, smashed their long-standing national record to win in 39.28, finishing more than half a second ahead of South Africa (39.79).
Hailemariyham Amare Tegegn on his way to winning the steeplechase at the African Championships (© Clyde Koa Wing)
Two days after claiming bronze in the 5000m, Caroline Nyaga struck gold in the women’s 10,000m. The Kenyan won in 32:12.61 from Uganda’s Racheal Chebet (32:17.66). Meseret Gebre Dekebo, winner of the Barcelona Marathon last month, was third in 32:25.97.
Hailemariyham Amare Tegegn won a competitive men’s steeplechase final in 8:27.38 from fellow Ethiopian Tadese Takele Bikila, who was second in 8:28.31. Kenya’s Geoffrey Kirwa was third in 8:29.74
In other action, former 400m specialist Slimane Moula of Algeria triumphed in his new event, the 800m, winning the title in 1:45.59 from Kenya’s Nicholas Kiplagat (1:46.43). South Africa’s Jo-ane van Dyk won the women’s javelin with 60.65m.
