ATHLETICS - The African Mirror

Apr

09

2024

Africans are triumphing in trail running; here are the 2023 African Trail Runners of the Year

ATHLETICS

FROM distance running and cross-country to short races, there is a long list of African athletes who have staged record-breaking performances in running. Today, the world’s fastest sprinters have their origins in West Africa, while the world’s greatest distance athletes live at high altitudes in the Great Rift Valley to the east of the continent. The continent is now producing some of the biggest names on the world stage in trail and mountain running—running on paths that are not surfaced, paved, sealed or asphalt roads. It involves running on rugged terrain. In particular, African athletes from the north and east…

Apr

07

2024

By STEPHEN GRANGER, SPNA

Africans showcase the continent’s athletic supremacy at the World Cross-Country Championships

ATHLETICS

IF you want to get a sense of the level to which African runners dominate distance running right now, look no further than the World Athletics Cross Country Championships, held this year in Belgrade, Serbia. From Kenya to South Africa, Uganda to Ethiopia, different cross-country athletes from the continent recorded remarkable performances. Formerly known as the International Cross Country Championships, the annual event is the most important competition in international cross-country running. This year’s edition was held in Belgrade on March 30. East African athletes continued their dominance in international cross-country, claiming all team and individual medals, bar one. Apart…

Mar

04

2024

By The African Mirror

Kipruto, Kebede win Tokyo Marathon in course record times

ATHLETICS

KENYAN Benson Kipruto won the men's Tokyo Marathon in two hours, two minutes and 16 seconds on Sunday, breaking former world record holder Eliud Kipchoge's course mark in perfect racing conditions on the streets of the Japanese capital. Ethiopia's Sutume Asefa Kebede won the women's race ahead of Kenya's defending champion Rosemary Wanjiru in 2:15:55, also bettering the best previous women's time over the course from Shinjuku to the Imperial Palace. Kipruto pulled clear of Timothy Kiplagat over the last few kilometres and finished 39 seconds ahead of his compatriot to add the Tokyo title to those he won in…

Feb

15

2024

By WYCLIFFE W. NJORORAI SIMIYU

Kelvin Kiptum: the Kenyan runner who redefined what it takes to win marathons

ATHLETICS

KENYAN athletics has lost Kelvin Kiptum, the marathon world record holder who was destined to be the first person to run the race in under two hours. The runner, aged only 24, died on 10 February in a car accident that also claimed his coach Gervais Hakizimana, 37, from Rwanda. WYCLIFFE W. NJORORAI SIMIYU, Professor and Chair of Kinesiology and Health Science, Stephen F. Austin State University The accident occurred near one of the high-altitude athletics training centres that dot the country’s north Rift Valley. The region northwest of Nairobi is home to many Kenyan distance runners, among them world-famous…

Feb

15

2024

By The African Mirror

Kenya’s Sarah Chepchirchir gets 8-year ban for second doping violation

ATHLETICS

KENYA'S Sarah Chepchirchir has been hit with an eight-year ban after the former Tokyo Marathon winner was found to have violated anti-doping regulations for a second time, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) said in a statement. Chepchirchir had returned an adverse analytical finding for testosterone, the AIU said. The sample was collected at the Bangsaen42 Chonburi Marathon in Thailand in November. The 39-year-old was previously banned for four years in 2019, backdated to April 11, 2018, because of abnormalities in her athlete blood passport. The latest ban will be backdated to December 22, 2023, and Chepchirchir's competition results from November…

Feb

12

2024

By THOMAS MUKOYA and HUMPHREY MALALO

Marathon world record holder Kiptum dies in road accident

ATHLETICS

KENYA'S marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum and his coach were killed in a traffic accident in the Rift Valley, cutting short the career of the only man to have run the endurance classic in less than two hours and one minute. The 24-year-old set the world record, tab at the Chicago Marathon in October with a time of two hours and 35 seconds to surpass the mark of 2:01:09 run by compatriot Eliud Kipchoge in Berlin in 2022. Kiptum, who clocked three of the seven fastest marathon times in history, had been hoping to become the first man to run the…

Dec

20

2023

By The African Mirror

Bela and Nzola included as Angola name squad for Cup of Nations finals

ATHLETICS

ANGOLA recalled strikers Jeremie Bela and Mbala Nzola to their squad for the African Cup of Nations finals as they became the first team to name their selection for next month’s tournament in the Ivory Coast. Coach Pedro Goncalves named 23 players, despite the Confederation of African Football saying last week that the 24 participating countries would be allowed 27-strong squads for the finals, which kick off on Jan. 13. Previously at Birmingham City, Bela last played for Angola two years ago. This is a surprise inclusion considering injuries have restricted his playing time this season for Ligue 1’s bottom…

Dec

13

2023

By The African Mirror

Kipyegon, Lyles among six crowned at expanded World Athletics Awards

ATHLETICS

SIX athletes - Faith Kipyegon, Noah Lyles, Armand "Mondo" Duplantis, Tigist Assefa, Kelvin Kiptum, and Yulimar Rojas - were all named World Athletes of the Year after the awards were expanded into three categories. The 2023 World Athletics Awards have been divided into track, field and out-of-stadia categories following feedback received during the voting process, the organisers said. "The depth of talent and the outstanding performances in our sport this year more than justify the expansion," said World Athletics President Sebastian Coe. "Our World Athletes of the Year alone have achieved seven world records ... in 2023, as well as a…

Nov

24

2023

By The African Mirror

Uganda’s Chemusto banned for four years for doping violation

ATHLETICS

UGANDAN middle-distance runner Janat Chemusto has been banned for four years after the 25-year-old tested positive for a prohibited substance, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) said. The AIU said in a statement that Chemusto had returned an adverse analytical finding for the prohibited substance "19-Norandrosterone (a Metabolite of Nandrolone (19-nortestosterone) or Nandrolone precursors)". The sample was collected at Nairobi's Kip Keino Classic in May, where Chemusto clocked a personal best of 4:01.79 to win the women's 1,500 metres. The ban will be backdated to July 13 2023, and Chemusto's competition results from May 13 onwards will be disqualified. The AIU…

Nov

19

2023

By The African Mirror

Jamaican Taylor banned for 30 months for doping rule violation

ATHLETICS

JAMAICAN sprinter Christopher Taylor has been banned for 30 months for an anti-doping rule violation, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) said. Taylor, who helped Jamaica to silver in the 4x400 metres relay at the 2022 World Championships, failed to submit to a sample collection in an out-of-competition test roughly a year ago, AIU said. The suspension is applicable from a year ago and Taylor will be eligible again in May 2025. Reuters was not immediately able to contact Taylor for comment. An Instagram post added to his account on Thursday night read "The End of an ERA."