Gina Bass-Bittaye (270) on her way to the 200m title in Accra (© AFP / Getty Images)
The final day of athletics at the African Games in Accra, Ghana, came with fireworks as teams sought to end their campaigns on a high on Friday (22).
Gambian 100m and 200m record-holder Gina Bass-Bittaye put up a successful defence of her 200m crown to complete a sprint double. Running into a headwind (-2.6m/s), the 2019 world finalist held off the threat posed by Congo’s Natacha Ngoye Akamabi, who had an explosive start, and Nigeria’s Olayinka Olajide, who finished strongly, to win in 23.13. Olajide ran 23.18 in second, while Akamabi took the bronze in 23.42.
It was a good day for the host nation as Commonwealth Games finalist Joseph Amoah put up an emphatic display in the men’s 200m to win in 20.70, with Cameroon’s Claude Emmanuel Itoungue Bogognie coming a close second in 20.74. Nigeria’s Consider Emmanuel pipped home athlete Ibrahim Fuseini to the bronze, 20.80 to 20.85.
Shared spoils for Kenya and Ethiopia in the 1500m
The women’s 1500m provided one of the highlights of the day as 2022 world indoor bronze medallist Hirut Meshesha inspired a 1-2 for Ethiopia, setting a Games record in the process.
The 2019 African Games 800m champion took the lead after one lap and did not relinquish, taking her teammate and world cross country mixed relay silver medallist Hawi Abera along with her. Meshesha won in a Games record of 4:05.71, taking down the previous record of 4:06.89 set by her compatriot and 2008 world indoor gold medallist Gelete Burka in 2007.
Abera followed in 4:06.09, a lifetime best for the 17-year-old, as Kenya’s Mary Ekiru won the bronze, also with a PB of 4:06.22.
In the men’s race, Kenya and Ethiopia shared the spoils once again, with Brian Komen coming from behind to snatch the victory from world U20 champion Ermias Girma in 3:39.19 as the latter posted 3:39.40. Two-time world finalist and African champion Abel Kipsang settled for bronze in 3:39.45.
Experience prevailed in the men’s 5000m. Rio Olympic bronze medallist Hagos Gebrhiwet bided his time and made his way to the front of the pack to take the bell in the lead. He was unstoppable as Somalia’s Abdullahi Jama Mohamed chased hard after him, with Gebrhiwet winning in 13:38.12. Jama Mohamed was second in 13:38.64 and Cornelius Kemboi third with 13:40.61.
South Sudan’s Loliha Atalena was the woman to beat in the half marathon where she returned a time of 1:14:36 to finish ahead of Ethiopian Zewditu Aderaw (1:14:40) and Nancy Jepleting of Kenya (1:15:07).
Eritrean Samsom Amare dominated the men’s event in 1:05:04 as Ghana’s William Amponsah made history for his nation by winning their first ever half marathon medal with his second-place finish (1:05:13). He had set a 10,000m national record to finish fifth in that event a couple of days earlier. Zimbabwe’s Isaac Mpofu was third in 1:05:37.
The men’s high jump captivated the home fans who had a personal stake in the event, with Evans Yamoah competing. It was a successful contest for the Ghanaian record-holder who soared to a PB of 2.23m, adding 2cm to his previous record. He faced stiff competition from Morocco’s Saad Hammouda and defending champion Mpho Links of South Africa, who matched him height-for-height until the bar was lifted to 2.23m.
The Ghanaian failed to go past that mark with his first two attempts, but triumphed at the third time of asking. Hammouda and Links settled for silver and bronze respectively with their best efforts of 2.21m.
Nigeria’s Chinecherem Nnamdi needed just one throw to cement his place as gold medallist in the men’s javelin, while 2015 world champion Julius Yego got the silver with his fifth attempt. Competing for the first time of the season, Nnamdi also got the national record as his spear landed at 82.80m, making him the first Nigerian to throw over 82 metres, while Yego threw 81.72m.
South Africa got gold and bronze in the women’s shot put as African U20 champion Ashley Erasmus came of age in Accra. The 18-year-old added 13cm to her previous lifetime best with 16.98m on her final attempt to take gold. Nigeria’s Oyesade Olatoye took the silver medal with 16.61m while the gold medallist from Rabat and reigning African champion, Ischke Senekal, placed third with 16.38m.
South Africa gained another gold in the men’s long jump where Asande Mthembu led the event with his best jump of 7.86m and was followed by Algerian Yasser Mohammed Triki (7.83m), the world indoor triple jump silver medallist.
The women’s 400m hurdles gold was taken by two-time African U20 champion Rogail Joseph, who set a personal best of 55.39. Noura Ennadi of Morocco got silver in 55.85.
Another gold for Nigeria and Games record for Zambia in the 4x400m
Just like in the 4x100m relays where the same nations finished top three in both the men’s and women’s races, Nigeria, Zambia and Botswana all finished on the podium in both 4x400m finals.
Nigeria claimed a 10th consecutive title in the women’s 4x400m as Esther Elo Joseph, Patience Okon-George, Brittany Ogunmokun and Omolara Ogunmakinju proved too strong for the rest of the field and coasted to victory in 3:27.29. They were followed by Zambia, who ran a national record of 3:31.85 for second place. Botswana secured the bronze in 3:33.44.
The men’s 4x400m final was a two-horse race between Botswana, who had taken the lead by the second leg, and Zambia, who took over by the third leg, courtesy of David Mulenga.
Anchor leg runner Bayapo Ndori got the lead for Botswana again but Commonwealth Games 400m gold medallist Muzala Samukonga was unrelenting in his pursuit and prevailed just before the line to gift Zambia the gold medal along with a Games record of 2:59.12, erasing the previous record of 3:00.34 set by Kenya in 2015. Botswana settled for silver in 2:59.32 as Nigeria finished third in 3:01.84.
Yemi Olus-Galadima for World Athletics
