On Tuesday Couto came second in his qualifying heat, with a time of 51.40 seconds. He was beaten by the Kenyan Julius Oletygor on 50.87. In the two heats only Oletygor and Daniel Lagamang of Botswana had faster times than Couto.
As expected, Ethiopians have done well over long distances. In the grueling men’s 10,000 metres, the gold and silver medals went to Ethiopian athletes Ebrahim Gashu and Azmeraw Molalign, with times of 28 minutes, 18.22 seconds and 28:19.32. In third position was Kennet Kipkemoi of Kenya, in 28:20.61.
In the men’s 400 metre final on Tuesday night, gold went to Rabah Mohamed of Sudan, in a time of 45.27 seconds. Tobi Ogunmola of Nigeria came second in 45.82, and Mark Mutai of Kenya took the bronze in 46.52.
In the men’s 4 x 100 metre relay, the Nigerian team won gold in a time of 38.93, fractionally ahead of the Ghanaian team on 38.95. The Botswana runners took the bronze in 39.09.
Taoufik Makihoufi of Algeria won the final of the men’s 800 metres, in a time of 1 minute 46.32 seconds. The Kenyan athletes Boaz Kiplagat Lalang and Job Kinyor won the silver and bronze in times of 1:46.40 and 1:46.52.
In the men’s triple jump, Tosin Oke of Nigeria won the gold, with a distance of 16.65 metres, followed by Issam Nima of Algeria (16.54) and Hugo Schlick of Cameroon (16.17).
In the women’s 100 metre hurdles, the final was dominated by two Nigerians, Seun Adigun and Jessica Ohanaja, who won gold and silver in times of 13.20 and 13.36. Rosa Rakotozafy of Madagascar was third in 13.55. The Mozambican Silvia Panguana was ninth and last on 14.54.
The Mozambican team also failed to win any medal in the final of the women’s 4 x 100 relay, coming in 6th and last place. The gold went to Nigeria, in a time of 43.34 seconds, while Ghana and Cameroon were in second and third position, on 44.33 and 45.00.
East Africans took the medals in the women’s 3,000 metre steeplechase. Hyvin Jepkemdi of Kenya won gold in a time of 10:00.50, followed by the Ethiopians, Hiwot Yimer and Bityukan Adamu, in 10:00.57 and 10:02.22.
In the final of the women’s 400 metres, Amanthe Montsho of Botswana won the gold in 50.85 seconds. Silver and bronze went to Ami Thiam of Senegal (51.77) and Tjipekapora Herunga of Namibia (51.84).
Gold in the women’s hammer went to Ami Sene of Senegal, with a throw of 61.48 metres. Ben Saad Saara of Tunisia won the silver (59.65) and Rana Ibraim of Egypt the bronze (58.57).
Gold and silver in the women’s high jump went to two Nigerians, Doreen Amata and Osazuwa Uhunoma, while Lissa Labiche of Seychelles took bronze.
In the finals of the women’s javelin, South Africans Justine Robbeson and Gerlize de Klerk came first and second, with throws of 55.23 and 52.27 metres. In third position was Lindy Agricole of Seychelles (51.26). Mozambican Georgina Chirindza was in sixth position – her throw only carried 38.12 metres.
Nigerian Otonye Iwirima took the gold in the women’s triple jump, with a jump of 14.47 metres. In second and third position were Baya Rahouli of Algeria (14.02) and Ken Ndoye of Senegal (13.74).
On the tennis court, Mozambicans Isac Jorge and Felicano dos Santos won their men’s double qualifying round against Lebelo Mosehle and Paseka Motsamai of Lesotho in straight sets (4-0, 4-1). The other Mozambican pair, Antonio Bulha and Franco Mata, has not yet played.
Post published in: Athletics