|
 By Miguel Suleyman
Tanzania’s Fabian Joseph Naasi beat the Commonwealth Games 10,000 metre mark easily despite finishing seventh in the African Senior Athletics Championship in Nairobi on Wednesday.
Fabian, who clocked 28 minutes, 40 seconds and 53 points, surpassed the set Games qualifying standard of 30:23:10 minutes.
Besides his impressive time, Naasi also earned Tanzania two points while the gold winner, Wilson Kiprop, won eight points for his country, Kenya.
Moses Kipsiro, who finished second made Uganda proud with seven points after winning the second position while Kenyan Geoffrey Mutai grabbed six points.
Today, two Tanzanians will be in the 800m action against renowned world and continental class runners.
Barae Hhera, who clocked 1:47: 06 on his way to the semifinal, will be joined by his compatriot Frank Martin who reached the semis with 1:46:75.
Hhera will run in the heat one of the semifinal against Kenyan Alfred Kirwa Yego, Severin Sahinkuye (Burundi), Elamine Mouhcine (Morocco), Nadjim Manseur (Algeria) Windy Jonas (SA) Dawit Wolde (Ethiopia) and the Kenyan gold medal favourite, David Rudisha.
Martin’s toughest opponent is likely to be a South African veteran, Mbulaeni Mulaudzi, who disappointed his fans when he lost to Mwera in the 2006 All Africa Games in Algiers.
Other runners the Tanzanian will have to outdo include; Jimmy Adar (Uganda), Daniel Ngaipanduzwa (Namibia), Mor Seck (Senegal), Shiferaw Wola (Ethiopia), Fikadu Dabushe (Ethiopia) and Jackson Kivuva (Kenya).
The day's other final, the men's shot put, was equally too close to call until the final stages where veteran 37-year old South African Burger Lambrechts took victory with his very last throw of the contest.
The surprise result of the day was reserved in the women’s Hammer Throw where Senegal’s Amy Sene threw a national record of 64.11m to take victory ahead of Egypt's Marwa Ahmed Hussein (62.36m), who has won African titles in each of the last four editions of the African championships.
Togo's Florence Edem Apefa Ezeh also improved her own national record to win bronze in 57.94m.
|
