Alice Aprot lived up to her position as favorite for the 10,000 meters title on the fourth day of the African Athletics Championships in Durban, leading home a Kenyan clean sweep in 30min 26.94sec, the fastest time so far this season.
Jackline Chepng’eno, who clocked 31:27.73, and Joyline Jepkosgei, 31:28.28, closed in for silver and bronze almost 300m behind after the long run for home by the African cross country champion had taken dramatic effect within three laps.
“Our aim was to win 1-2-3,” said Aprot, who won the African Games 10,000m title last year.
“So the plan was when I hit the front and move they should go follow.
“I would not have lapped my team-mates, I would have slowed down.
“Now the focus is to make the Olympics team next week and then I will do my level best in Brazil.”
The Kenyan Olympic trials will be held next Thursday and Friday (June 30 to July 1) in Eldoret.
The day after taking the 1500m title, Rio 2016 800m favorite Caster Semenya coasted through her opening 800m heat over two laps in 2:02.00.
She continues to look favorite for the Rio 2016 800m title.
“The main thing here is to win gold, have a good championships and entertain my people,” said Semenya, who won the world title in 2009 and took silver at the London 2012 Olympics.
“I have not decided yet whether I will double in Rio, run the 800m and the relay or something else, I should make a final decision after this Championships.
“I can’t say I have any pressure for now, I am enjoying my runs.
“They don’t have to be scared of me or my form – that is just being a coward.
“Everyone just has to run their race. I know what it means to finish first and last. I was last in Rome but I did not get angry.”
Her main opposition in tomorrow’s final on the fifth and last day of the 20th African Athletics Championships looks like being Kenyan in the form of two other heats winners – All Africa Games silver medalist Sylvia Chesebe, in 2:30.96, and Emily Cherotich, in 2:03.95..
Tosin Oke, Nigeria’s Commonwealth triple jump champion, won his third African title with a best of 17.13m.
Burkina Faso’s Fabrice Zango placed second in 16.81, with South Africa’s Khotso Mokoena taking bronze in 16.77.
Egypt’s Eslam Ibrahim won the men’s hammer with 68.92m, with silver going to home thrower Chris Harmse, who reached 67.67, and bronze to another South African, Tshepang Makhethe, who threw 65.54.
By Mike Rowbottom
Republished with permission from insidethegames.biz