ATHLETICS - The African Mirror

Jun

17

2024

Kipyegon targets double gold in Paris

ATHLETICS

DOUBLE Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon said she is looking forward to a bright summer in Paris, where she will chase two gold medals, after winning the 1500m and 5000m at the Kenyan Olympics Trials in Nairobi. Despite not competing since September’s Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, the 30-year-old secured her ticket in both distances for the Paris Olympics with a season's best performance. A day after winning the 5000m in 14:46.28, the Rio and Tokyo Games 1500m champion demonstrated her mastery of the distance on Saturday, setting the track ablaze with a record time of 3:53.98, the fastest time ever in…

Jun

16

2024

By The African Mirror

Teenager Wanyonyi makes statement with blistering 800 at Kenyan trials

ATHLETICS

TEENAGER Emmanuel Wanyonyi sprinted to the third-fastest 800-metre time in history at the Kenyan Olympics Trials, setting a blistering statement barely a month before the Paris Games. The 19-year-old clocked one minute 41.70 seconds, the quickest time since 2012 and less than a second off the world record of 1:40.91 set by fellow Kenyan David Rudisha in 1988. Only Rudisha and Wilson Kipketer have gone faster than Wanyonyi did on Friday. Wanyonyi was the silver medallist at last year's world championships in Budapest.

Jun

13

2024

By The African Mirror

World’s fastest man Bolt ruptures Achilles in charity soccer match

ATHLETICS

JAMAICAN sprinting hero Usain Bolt ruptured his Achilles tendon at a charity football match in London, confirming the news in a social media post. The eight-time Olympic champion and world-record holder in the 100 and 200 metres was carried off on a stretcher during the second half of the Soccer Aid game at Stamford Bridge. Bolt posted an Instagram photo from a dressing room, his right foot encased in a walking boot. "Ruptured Achilles but done know we are a warrior," wrote Bolt, who flashed a peace sign in the photo. Bolt had been skipper of the World XI against…

Jun

06

2024

By The African Mirror

Kenyan Kipruto banned for six years

ATHLETICS

RHONEX Kipruto has been banned for six years for doping, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) said, with the Kenyan set to lose his 10-kilometre road race world record and a world championship bronze medal. Kipruto, 24, who won 10,000 metres bronze in the 2019 world championships, had been provisionally suspended for an anti-doping violation in May last year. He is now banned until May 2029. Kipruto broke the 10km road race world record in 2020 in Valencia and won the 10,000 metres at the 2019 Stockholm Diamond League -- results which will now be annulled. A Disciplinary Tribunal ruled that…

May

30

2024

By BONFACE ORUCHO, BIRD STORY AGENCY

Stellar qualifiers raise Africa’s hopes of a Paris gold heist

ATHLETICS

PREPARATIONS for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games are in full swing and African countries are assembling their teams for the world's premier sports competition, which features up to 200 teams from across the globe. While African countries haven't amassed as many medals as powerhouses like the USA — whose all-time Olympic medal count exceeds 2,600 compared to Kenya’s 113, the highest in Africa — African athletes are likely to continue to deliver unforgettable Olympic moments. From Kenya’s steeplechase legacy to Ethiopia's marathon successes to South Africa’s excellence in the swimming pool, there will be no shortage of moments when African…

May

07

2024

By The African Mirror

South Africa, Botswana relay athletes qualify for Olympics in speed and style

ATHLETICS

IN the crucible of competition, amidst the fervor of the World Athletics Relays, a tale of Southern African prowess unfolded, etching itself into the annals of sporting legend. In Nassau, The Bahamas, the thundering strides of Botswana's men's 4x400m relay team echoed through the stadium, their determination a beacon of excellence. Led by the seasoned Isaac Makwala, they blazed a trail of speed and precision. Letsile Tebogo, a sprinting sensation, ignited the track as he surged from fifth position to snatch the lead, passing the baton with a flourish to Leungo Scotch. Amidst the relentless pursuit of world-class athletes, including…

Apr

29

2024

By The African Mirror

Kenya’s Wanyonyi sets road mile world record in Herzogenaurach

ATHLETICS

KENYA'S Emmanuel Wanyonyi set a road mile world record at the Road to Records event in Herzogenaurach, Germany, finishing with a time of three minutes and 54.5 seconds. The race was Wanyonyi's competitive debut in the men's mile category. The 19-year-old broke the previous record of 3:56.13 set by American Hobbs Kessler in October. Kessler, who also ran on Saturday, finished second with a time of 3:56.1. Wanyonyi, who specialises in 800 metres, won silver at last year's World Athletics Championships in Budapest, before winning gold at the 2023 Diamond League.

Apr

23

2024

By The African Mirror

Jepchirchir crushes women’s-only world record in winning London Marathon

ATHLETICS

REIGNING Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir crushed the women's-only world record in winning the 44th London Marathon, while Kenyan compatriot Alexander Mutiso Munyao pulled away from Ethiopian distance great Kenenisa Bekele to win the men's race. The 30-year-old Jepchirchir crossed the finish line in front of Buckingham Palace in two hours 16 minutes 16 seconds to break Mary Keitany's mark of 2:17:01 set in a women-only race at the 2017 London event. Jepchirchir pulled away from a group of four in a sprint finish before collapsing to her knees in tears having beaten the fastest field of women ever assembled. "I…

Apr

20

2024

By The African Mirror

China’s federation promises action after half marathon debacle

ATHLETICS

THE Chinese Athletics Association (CAA) has vowed to strengthen the supervision of its road-running events after a video of Sunday's Beijing half-marathon showed three runners appearing to slow down to allow China's He Jie to overtake them and win. He won in a time of 1:03:44, a second ahead of Ethiopian Dejene Hailu Bikila and Kenyans Robert Keter and Willy Mnangat, who all tied for second place. Videos shared online showed the three runners waving He, who was slightly behind them, in front and gesturing towards the finish line. All four had run together for the entire race of just over 13…

Apr

13

2024

By HELEN REID and VINCENT DAHERON

Kenya’s Kipchoge eyes historic Olympic marathon hat-trick

ATHLETICS

KENYA'S Eliud Kipchoge expects to make history with his third consecutive Olympic marathon gold medal at this year's Games in Paris, he told Reuters in an interview on Thursday, adding that there were no thoughts about retirement yet. Ethiopia's Abebe Bikila, East Germany's Waldemar Cierpinski and Kipchoge are the only athletes to have won two Olympic gold medals in the marathon when they retained their titles. "My huge expectation actually is to win the Olympics for the third time," said Kipchoge, who turns 40 in November and finished 10th at last month's Tokyo Marathon. That result and his relatively vintage…