African Athletics Championships FINAL DAY: Ethiopia Finishes Third Behind South Africa and Nigeria in Medals Count

Female Ethiopian athletes scored a landmark victory in the 3,000m steeplechase at the 16th African Athletics Championships that ended today in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The distance had been a Kenyan strong hold over the years, but this year, Ethiopia’s long distance coach indicated that his athletes could offset Kenya’s comfortable ride in the 3,000m steeplechase.

True to his words, Zemzem Ahemed not only finished top, she obliterated the competition record for the distance crossing the line in 9:44.58. Mekdes Bekele completed the victory finishing second in 9:59.52. Ruth Bosibori of Kenya effectively blocked an all-Ethiopian medal sweep taking the bronze medal from Sofia Asefa.

In another final-day action, Ethiopian running ace World and Olympic 10,000m champion Kenenisa Bekele clinched gold in the men’s 5,000m. He finished in 13:49.67 followed by Kenya’s Isaac Songok 13:49.91 and Ali Abdush of Ethiopia took the bronze medal in fantastic display of his potential for an Olympic medal this summer.

Kenenisa Bekele’s younger brother Tariku Bekele finished fourth in 13:53.03.

OFFICIAL RESULTS

FINAL DAY, May 03, 2008

MEDALS TABLE

RANK

COUNTRY

GOLD

SILVER

BRONZE

TOTAL

1.

SOUTH AFRICA

12

2

8

22

2.

NIGERIA

7

7

5

19

3.

ETHIOPIA

6

6

3

15

4.

KENYA

5

5

6

16

5.

ALGERIA

2

4

1

7

6.

EGYPT

2

3

2

7

7.

MOROCCO

2

2

2

6

3,000m Steeplechase WOMEN FINAL

RANK

NAME

NAT

RESULT

1.

Zemzem AHMED

ETH

9:44.58

2.

Mekdes BEKELE

ETH

9:59.52

3.

Ruth BOSIBORI

KEN

10:00.18

4.

Sofia ASEFA

ETH

10:05.73

5,000m MEN FINAL

RANK

NAME

NAT

RESULT

1.

Bekele KENENISSA

ETH

13:49.67

2.

Isaac SONGOK

KEN

13:49.91

3.

Ali ABDUSH

ETH

13:50.64

4.

Tariku BEKELE

ETH

13:53.03

1,500m MEN FINAL

RANK

NAME

NAT

RESULT

1.

Haron KEITANY

KEN

3:43.47

2.

Gideon GATHIMBA

KEN

3:43.56

3.

Juan VAN DEVENTER

RSA

3:43.63

4.

Deresse MEKONEN

ETH

3:44.19

20km WALK WOMEN FINAL

RANK

NAME

NAT

Time

1.

Grace WANJIRU

KEN

1:39:50

2.

Asnakech ARARSA

ETH

1:40:12

3.

Mary NJOKI

KEN

1:41:15

20km WALK WOMEN FINAL

RANK

NAME

NAT

Time

1.

Mohamed AMEUR

ALG

1:22:55

2.

Hicham MEDJEBER

ALG

1:23:29

3.

Hassanine SBAI

TUN

1:23:58

HIGH JUMP MEN FINAL

RANK

NAME

NAT

RESULT

1.

Kabelo KGOSIEMANG

BOT

2.34

2.

Mohamed BENHEDIA

ALG

2.18

3.

Boubacar SERE

BUR

2.18

200m WOMEN FINAL

RANK

NAME

NAT

Time

1.

Isabel LE ROUX

RSA

22.69

2.

Kadiatou CAMARA

MLI

22.70

3.

Damola OSAYOMI

NGR

22.83

200m MEN FINAL

RANK

NAME

NAT

Time

1.

Thuso MPAUNG

RSA

20.53

2.

Stephan BUCKLAND

MRI

20.62

3.

Fanuez KENOSI

BOT

20.72

400m HURDLE MEN FINAL

RANK

NAME

NAT

Time

1.

Ajoke ODUMOSU

NGR

55.92

2.

Lamiae LHABZ

MAR

56.07

3.

Aissata SOULAMA

BUR

56.13