African Athletics

Mohamed Khawaja fullfiled his date with Libyan athletics history. After his 400m victory the drama followed.

Mohamed Ashour Khawaja wrote his name into Libyan folklore in dramatic fashion on Day Three at the Africa Senior Athletics Championships in Nyayo National Stadium, Nairobi Kenya on Friday (30 July).
Only those who do not follow athletics closely would not have foreseen Khawaja’s meteoritic rise to prominence especially after teamed up with renowned Nigerian coach Chief Tony Osheku less than a year ago.
In Nairobi, Khawaja progressed from modest 46.78 seconds in his heat, to the fastest time in the semi finals of 45.42. Then in the final accelerating with 180m to the finish, Khawaja cross the finish line in 44.98 seconds.
Still a youthful 22 years old, Khawaja has run the fastest time of his fledging career. The 2009 Mediterranean Games 400m champion also improved his national record of 45.35 set in Damascus Syria last year. Besides all this, never before since the first Africa Senior Athletics Championships in Dakar Senegal in 1979, has a Libyan won a gold medal at these championships.
The fast finishing Sudanese Rabah Yousif (45.18) was second, coming in 0.03 seconds shy of his personal best. Although the Democratic Republic of Congo’s  Africa 400m record holder Gary Kikaya and Kenyan Mark Kiprotich Mutai were credited with an identical 45.28 seconds, Kikaya got the nod for the bronze medal.
As he crossed the finish line Khawaja’s pointed towards the clock depicting his winning time. Then in unusual turn of events he went down and sat besides the clock. But that was not the end of the drama.
Khawaja breezed past the journalists in the mixed zone waiting to interview him. The things became more dramatic as he collapsed while before putting on his track suit. Organisers in the restricted area appeared to panic, while Khawaja’s coach Chief Osheku who has seen all this many times before was not overly concerned. As was the case at the end of the semi finals, Khawaja was stretchered out to the Nyayo Stadium emergency medical facility where a drip was attached to his arm.
“I am not too worried about the situation. This is a unique and deep psychological situation with this particular athlete. Without going into many details this happens whenever Khawaja runs a hard race,” Coach Osheku begun.
“After his semi final he wanted me to reassure him that the 45.42 seconds is a true reflection of his effort. I then reminded him of our pledge to make history. He lightened up, got off the hospital bed and was all smiles. You will see him beaming with happiness at the medal ceremony,” Osheku assures.
“For me this has been a special moment in my coaching career. I have trained a female African champion (and record holder) in Nigeria’s Fallilat Ogunkoya. Now I have achieved the same result with a male athlete,” says a nostalgic Osheku.
However Osheku concedes that there is one significant bridge that has yet to be cross with Khawaja. The new Africa 400m champion has yet to give an interview in whichever language he chooses to speak.
17th CAA AFRICAN SENIOR ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS, NAIROBI KENYA (28 July-01 August) RESULTS
NOTE
Only results from events completed are included (no heats)
CR denotes Championship Record
NR denote National Record
PB denotes Personal Best
DNS denotes Did Not Start
DNF denotes Did Not Finish
DISQ denotes Disqualified
NN denotes No Measurement
NWR denotes No Wind Reading
MEN
100m (+1.9)
1 Ben Yousef Meite (Cote d’Ivoire) 10.08 PB; 2 Zakhari Aziz (Ghana) 10.12; 3 Simon Magakwe (South Africa) 10.14 PB; 4 Amr Ibrahi Mostafa Seoud (Egypt) 10.18 PB/NR; 5 Egwero Ogho-Ogene (Nigeria) 10.26; 6 Aziz Ouhadi (Morocco) 10.26; 7 Obinna Metu (Nigeria) 10.31; 8 Mouhamadou Lamine Niang (Senegal) 10.40
200m ()
400m
1 Mohamed Khawaja (Libya) 44.98 PB/NR; 2 Rabah Yousif (Sudan) 45.18; 3 Gary Kikaya (Democratic Republic of Congo) 45.18; 3 Mark Kiprotich Mutai (Kenya) 45.28; 5 Obakeng Ngwigwa (Botswana) 45.50 PB; 6 Anderson Mureta Mutegi (Kenya) 45.62; 7 Saul Weigopwa (Nigeria) 45.93; 8 Bereke Desta Gebretsadik (Ethiopia) 47.14
110m hurdles ()
400m Hurdles
1 Louis van Zyl (South Africa) 48.53; 2 Cornel Fredericks (South Africa) PB; 3 Mamadou Kasse Hanne (Senegal 49.10; 4 Vincent Kiplangat Koskei (Kenya) 49.70; 5 Kurt Leonel de Couto (Mozambique) 49.79; 6 Mohamed Seghaier (Tunisia) 50.05 PB; Antonio Vieillesse (Mauritius) 51.08; 8 Hafz Hussein (Sudan) 52.02
800m
1 David Lekuta Rudisha (Kenya) 1:42.84 CR; Alfred Yego Kirwa (Kenya) 1:44.85; 3 Jackson Kivuva (Kenya) 1:45.47; 4 Shiferaw Wola Gende (Ethiopia) 1:46.39; 5 Mouchine Elamine (Morocco) 1:47.18; 6 Mor Seck (Senegal) 1:47.61; 7 Severin Sahinkuye (Burundi) 1:48.36 PB; 8 Windy Jonas (South Africa) 1:49.08
1500m
3000m Steeplechase
1 Richard Mateelong (Kenya) 8:23.54; 2 Ezekiel Kemboi (Kenya) 8:26.13; 3 Roba Gary Chubeta (Ethiopia) 8:27.15; 4 Nahom Mesfin (Ethiopia) 8:30.25; 5 Benjamin Kiplagat (Uganda) 8:32.03; 6 Abraham Cherono (Kenya) 8:35.92; 7 Ben Siwa (Uganda) 8:39.43; 8 Simon Ayeko (Uganda) 8:47.90; 9 Legease Lamisso Oyota (Ethiopia) 8:48.06; 10 Ezechiel Nigiyimana (Burundi) 9:08.30; 11 Edwin Molepo (South Africa) 9:30.74; Gervais Hakizimana (Rwanda) DNS
5000m
10000m
1 Wilson Kiprop (Kenya) 27:32.91; 2 Moses Ndiema Kipsiro (Uganda) 27:33.37; 3 Geoffrey Mutai (Kenya) 27:33.83; 4 Mathew Kisorio (Kenya) 2756.71; 5 Yakob Jarso Kintra (Ethiopia) 28:20.66; 6 Stephen Kiprotich (Uganda) 28:33.85; 7 Fabian Joseph (Tanzania) 2840.53; 8 Telemariam Medhin (Eritrea) 28:50.63; 9 Bernard Bizimana (Burundi) 30:01.78; 10 Daudi Joseph (Tanzania) 30:06.22; 11 Goumaneh Omar Doualeh (Djibouti) 31:53.08
20km Race Walk
Long Jump
1 Khotso Mokoena (South Africa) 8.25(-2.40); 2 Ndiss Kaba Badji (Senegal) 8.10 (+3.30); 3 Stanley Gbagbeke (Nigeria) 8.06 (-2.4); 4 Mohammed Deifalla Gawy (Egypt) 7.89 (-0.5); 5 Issam Nima (Algeria) 7.84 (+0.4); 6 Momadou Cherif Dia (Mali) 7.73 (0.0); 7 Robert Martey Ghana) 7.67 (-1.40); 8 Samson Idiata (Nigeria) 7.51 (+0.6); 9 Elijah Kimitei (Kenya) 7.49 (-2.10); 10 Abdelhakim Mlaab (Morocco) 7.48 (–0.9); 11 Tera Langat (Kenya) 7.36 (-0.6); Ignisious Gaisah (Ghana) DNS 
Triple Jump
High Jump
Pole Vault
Discus
 1 Omar Abdellatif El Ghazaly (Egypt) 59.30; 2 Yasser Fat Ibrahim Farag (Egypt) 58.71; 3 Victor Hogan (South Africa) 58.11; 4 Nabil Kiram (Morocco) 54.27; 5 Ali Khalifa (Libya) 54.10; 6 Abdelmoumene Bourakba (Algeria) 50.96; 7 Joshua Opondo (Kenya) 48.17; 8 David Limo (Kenya) 48.02; 9 Daniel Kimeli (Kenya) 44.09; 10 Kwabena Kenne (Ghana) 43.14; 11 Siegfried Luccioni (Gabon) 39.38; Frank elema Owaka (Congo Brazzaville) 38.56
Shot Put
Burger Lambrechts (South Africa) 18.63; 2 Rolief Potgieter 18.62; 3 Orazio Cremora (South Africa) 18.27; 4 Frank Elema Owaka (Congo Brazzaville) 15.90; 5 Mousssa Diarra (Mali) 14.68; 6 David Limo (Kenya) 14.55; 7 Richard Metet (Kenya) 13.98; 8 Vincent Tuikong (Kenya) 13.97; 9 Romainio Houndeladji (Benin) 13.60; Kwabena Keene (Ghana) 13.52
Hammer Throw
Decathlon
1 Lardi Bourrada (Algeria) 8,148 points CR; 2 Mouerad Souissi (Algeria) 7,818 PB: 3 Guillaume Thierry (Mauritius) 7,100; 4 Ali Kame (Madagascar) 7,072; 5 Washington Nyakundi (Kenya) 5,940; 6 Cornelius Rotich (Kenya) 5,523
4×100m
1 SOUTH AFRICA (Hannes Dreyer; Simon Magakwe; Lehann Fourie; Thuso Mpuang) 39.12; 2 NIGERIA (Fred Agbaje; Benjamin Adukwu; Egwero Ogho-Oghene) 39.22; 3 GHANA (Emmanuel Appiah Kubi; Nana Kofi Sanah; Godwin Hukporti; Zakhari Aziz) 39.31; 4 KENYA ( Simon Kimaru; Anderson Mureta Mutegi; Stephen barasa; Kipkemboi Soy) 39.40; 5 MAURITIUS (Bastute Brasse; Eric Milazar; Fabric Coiffic; Garick Maureemootoo) 40.27; 6 COTE D’IVOIRE ( Siapade darius Loua; Ben Youssef  Meite; Dazi Connet Theo Kouassi; Hua Wilfreeds Serg Koffi ) 40.77; 7 ZAMBIA (Titus Kafounda; Jack Ng’umbi; Saviour Kombe; RichardChitambi) 41.22; 8 BURKINA FASO (Siaka Son; Lanssene Relwende Zongo; Wendyam Innocent Bolongo; Gerard Kobeane) DISQ
4×400m
WOMEN
100m (+1.8)
1 Blessing Okagbare (Nigeria) 11.03 CR; 2 Perennes Pau Ruddy Milama Zang (Gabon) 11.15 PB/NR; 3 Damola Osayomi (Nigeria) 11.22; 4 Agnes Osazuwa (Nigeria) 11.33; 5 Delphine Atangana (Cameroon) 11.43 PB; 6 Charlotte Menega Amombo (Cameroon) 11.71; 7 Mary Jane Vincent (Mauritius) 11.71;8 Mariette Mien (Burkina Faso) 11.94
200m ()
400m
1 Amantle Montsho (Botswana) 50.03; 2 Amy Mbacke Thiem (Senegal) 51.32; 3 shade Abugan (Nigeria) 51.63; 4 Ndeye Fotou Seck Soumah (Senegal) 51.93; 5 Estie Witstock (South Africa) 52.60; 6 Rachael Nachula (Zambia) 533.26; Nawal El jack (Sudan) 53.80; 8 Rebecca Nachula (Zambia) 54.10
100m Hurdles (+.0.2)
1 Seun Adigun (Nigeria) 13.14; 2 Gnima Faye (Senegal) 13.67; Amina Ferguen (Algeria) 13.87; 4 Alyma Soura (Burkina Faso) 14.02; 5 Carole Made Kaboud Mebam (Cameroon) 14.16; Florence Wasike (Kenya) 14.21 NR; Beatrice Kambole (Burkina Faso) DNF; Rosina Amenebede (Ghana) DISQ.
400m Hurdles
800m
1500m
1 Nancy Jebet Langat (Kenya) 4:10.43; Gelete Bati Burka (Ethiopia) 4:11.12; 3 Btissam Lakhoud (Morocco)  4:11.81; 4 Irene Jelagat (Kenya) 4:12.15; 5 Meske Assefa Wondimagrgn (Ethiopia) 4:14.37; 6 Ann Karindi (Kenya) 4:14.81; 7 Bertukan Feysa Germame (Ethiopia) 4:16.29; 8 Rene Kalmer (South Africa) 4:18.21; 9 Janet Achola (Uganda) 4:19.22; 10 Mouna Tabsart (Morocco) 4:19.83; 11 Siham Hilali (Morocco) 4:20.98; Eliane Saholinirina (Madagascar) 4:25.60
5000m
1 Vivian Cheruiyot (Kenya) 16:18.72; 2 Merseret Tola Defar (Ethiopia) 16:20.54; 3 Sentayehu Tamerat Ejigu (Ethiopia) 16:22.32; 4 Iness Chenonges (Kenya) 16:22.65; 5 Sule Utura (Ethiopia) 16:26.21; Esther Chemtai (Kenya) 16:29.25; 7 Zakia Mohamed Mrisho (Tanzania) 16:38.57; 8 Claudette Mukasakindi (Rwanda) 17:27.92; 9 Anatazia Msandai (Tanzania) 17:28.48; 10 Pauline Niyongere (Burundi) 18:07.53; 11 Simone Zapha (Seychelles 20:09.51
10000m
20km Race Walk
Long Jump
1 Blessing Okagbare (Nigeria) 6.62 (-2.9); 2 Comfort Onyali (Nigeria) 6.42 (-1.9); 3 Jamaa Chnaik (Morocco) 6.30 +0.5); 4 Yah Koita (Mali) 6.11 (+1.60); 5 Sandrine Mbumi (Cameroon) 6.05 (-2.1); 6 Mariette Mien (Burkina Faso) 5.83 (+0.1); 7 Doyana Jolicoeur (Mauritius) 5.67 (-2.6); 8 Janet Boniface (Seychelles) 5.65 (NWR); 9 Regina Malai Mulatya (Kenya) 5.52 -2.1); 10 Zeiba Zeine Abdo (Ethiopia) 5.12 (-4.40); 11 Beatrice Gyaman (Ghana) 5.09 (+3.5); 12 Rose Moraa (Kenya) 5.05 (-1.2); 13 Cherotich Koech (Kenya) 44.94 (-0.4); 14 Netsanet Haddis Hagos (Ethiopia) 4.92 (-0.4)
Triple Jump
High Jump
1 Ts’oalei Selloane (Lesotho) 1.75; 2 Lissa Labiche (Seychelles) 1.70; 3 Cherotich Koech (Kenya) 1.55; 4 Agatha Wambua NM; Catherine Kagwiria DNS
Pole Vault
1 Nisrin Dinar (Morocco) 3.70; 2 Laetitia Berthier (Burundi) 3.50; Sinali Alima Outtara (Cote d’Ivoire) 3.40; 4 Sonia Halliche (Algeria) 3.40; 5 Caro;ine Cherotich (Kenya) 3.00 PB/NR; 6 Minnie Langat (Kenya) 2.80 PB; 7 Priscilla Nasimiyu (Kenya) 2.40
Discus
1 Elizna Naude (South Africa) 56.74; 2 Karzai Suzanne Kragbe (Cote d’Ivoire) 55.53; 3 Sarah Hasseib Dardiri (Egypt) 46.51; 4 Caroline Cherotich (Kenya) 38.75; 5 Cicillia Kiplagat (Kenya) 38.23; 6 Pascaline Kipsang (Kenya) 35.87; 7 Gebregziabher Tsadik (Ethiopia) 32.89; 8 Cicillia Matee (Tanzania) 32.87; Linda Benin (Ghana) DNS
Shot Put
Hammer
1 Amy Sene (Senegal) 64.11 PB/NR; 2 Farwa Hussein 62.36; 3 Florence Edem Apefa Ezeh (Togo) 57.94 PB/NR; 4 Fatine Oubourogaa (Morocco) 57.70; 5 Linda Benin (Ghana) 57.55 PB; 6 Amina Saada (Algeria) 57.20; 7 Zouina Bouzebra (Algeria) 55.85; Queen Obisesan (Nigeria) 54.03; 9 Bolanle Ogun (Nigeria) 53.51; 10 Sophia Nyakou (Togo) 52.97; 1Linda Ngendo Oseso (Kenya) 48.30; 12 Mafuta Conceis Dimaketa (Anogloa) 48.29; 13 Lucy Chemtaui Kibet 41.10; 14 Lucy Angyango Omondi (Kenya) 40.54
4×100m
1 NIGERIA (Laureta Ozoh; Agnes Osazuwe; Damola Osayomi; Blessing Okagbare) 43.45 CR; 1 CAMEROON (Fanny Appes Ekanga; Charlotte Mebenga Amombo; Carole Made Kaboud; Mebam) 44.90; 3 GHANA (Rosina Amenebede; Elizabeth Amolofo; Beatrice Gyaman; Fling Owusu-Agyapong) 45.40 ; 4 ETHIOPIA ( Mantegosh Melese Goshu; Fetiya Kedir Hassenf; Leaynet Alemu Tulu) 46.46; KENYA (Maryline Chelagat; Grace Miroyo Kidake; Catherine Nandi; Millicent Ndoro) 46.53;  MAURITIUS (Stephanie Guillaume; Mary Jane Vincent, Elodie Pierre Louis, Joanilia Januier) DNF
4×400m
      MEDAL TABLE
COUNTRY                        GOLD   SILVER  BRONZE
Kenya                                    5             2               3
South Africa                         5             2               3
Nigeria                                  4             2               3
Senegal                                  1            3               0
Egypt                                     1             2               1
Algeria                                   1            1                1
Cote d’Ivoire                         1            1               1
Morocco                                 1            0               2
Botswana                               1            0               0
Lesotho                                  1            0               0
Libya                                      1            0               0
Ethiopia                                 0            2               2
Ghana                                    0            1               2
Burundi                                 0            1               0
Cameroon                             0            1               0
Gabon                                     0           1              0
Sudan                                      0          1               0
Seychelles                               0          1               0
Uganda                                    0          1               0
Dem. Rep. of Congo               0          0               1
Mauritius                                0           0              1
Togo                                        0           0              1   

Filed under: 2010 Africa Senior Athletics Championships