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The African continent gleaned its first gold medal at the Doha World Championships (Qatar) on the night of Friday to Saturday, September 28, thanks to Kenya's Ruth Chepngetich on marathon. South African sprinter Akani Simbine narrowly missed the podium in the 100m, and his jumping compatriot Luvo Manyonga failed to keep his crown. Big first race for the Ivorian Marie-Josée Ta Lou on 100m.
MARATHON (F): CHEPNGETICH SE COVERS GOLD
Rose Chelimo, naturalized Bahrainia of Kenyan origin, left its crown gleaned in 2017. In the night from Friday to Saturday, under the overwhelming heat (32 °) and the sweltering humidity (73%) of Doha that caused 28 Leaving 40% of the total finalists (a record), Kenya's Ruth Chepngetich won, bringing her first gold medal to the African continent.
She clocked 42.195km in 2 hours, 32 minutes and 43 seconds, 15 minutes faster than her time at the start of the year, and it's the longest time ever for a marathon final. Chelimo finished 2nd in 2 hours, 33 minutes and 46 seconds. The Namibian Helalia Johannes is in bronze in 2 hours 34 minutes and 15 seconds.
This final of the women's marathon will remain as a symbol of the criticisms made about these Mondials organized in Qatar, a country visibly not adapted to all events. The other founders and founders on men's marathon, 20km walk and 50km walk are warned: the weather conditions will complicate their task.
100M (H): SIMBINE A 3 CENTIMES OF BRONZE
As expected, the American Christian Coleman crushed the 100m and became world champion with the best time of 9''76 (best world performance of the year), making him the sixth best performer in history on the queen distance. Coleman beat Justin Gatlin (9''89), the same man who beat him in 2017 in London. Canada's Andre De Graase is in bronze with a new personal best (9''90).
Disappointment for South African Akani Simbine: certainly, he achieved his best performance of the season (9''93), but he fails 3 hundredths of the podium. No African has ever risen to one of the top three places in a 100m world championship. If Simbine had tied his personal best (9''89 in 2016), he would have managed.
Prior to the final, Nigerian Raymond Ekevwo (10-20), Liberian Emmanuel Matadi (10-28) and Ivorian Arthur Cisse (10-3) were eliminated in the semi-finals.
LONG JUMPING (H): MANYONGA COMPLETED AT THE FOOT OF THE PODIUM
First world champion from Africa on the long jump in 2017, Luvo Manyonga this time fails in 4th place. With a best jump at 8.28m, the South African finished away from the new champion, Jamaican Tajay Gayle and his mark of 8.69m. American Jeff Henderson is 2nd with 8.39m. Cuban Juan Miguel Echevarria took bronze with 8.34m, 6cm better than Manyonga. Ruswahl Samaai, the other South African in the final, is 5th with 8.23m.
10.000M (F): HASSAN SACRED FOR THE NETHERLANDS (AND ALSO FOR ETHIOPIA)
The versatile Sifan Hassan, at ease both in the middle distance and in the background, won the 10.000m final by taking the lead of the race within two laps of the finish. More than her opponents, the 26-year-old could not be caught and won with the best world performance of the year (30'17''62).
This is the first time since the Gothenburg World Championships in Sweden in 1995 that the title of world champion of the 10,000m does not return to an Ethiopian or a Kenyan. However, Sifan Hassan was born in Ethiopia and represented his country until 2013 before being naturalized Dutch. Ethiopia's Letesenbet Gidey is vice-world champion, Kenyan Agnes Jebet Tirop finished in 3rd place.
800M (F): FOUR AFRICAN IN FINAL
They will be four, Monday, September 30, to run for the succession of Caster Semenya, deprived of these Worlds. In Saturday's 800m semifinals, four of seven African athletes qualified for the final. Special mention to Ugandan Halima Nakaayi, who had the best half-time and best time of the season (1'59''35). Her compatriot Winnie Nanyondo (1'59''75) will also be, as will Kenya's Eunice Jepkoech Sum (2'00''10) and Moroccan Rababe Arafi (2'00''80). On the other hand, it did not pass for the Moroccan Halima Hachlaf, the Ethiopian Diribe Welteji and the Beninese Noélie Yarigo.
100M (F): TA LOU SIGNS BIG PERFORMANCE
The 100m series have allowed three African sprinters to qualify for the semi-finals, which will take place on Sunday 29 September. Marie-Josée Ta Lou made a strong impression by winning her 10''85 series. The Ivorian matched her personal best. His compatriot Murielle Ahouré is also qualified with his time of 11''05. Gambian Gina Bass will also play the semi-finals (11''25). All will have to be very strong to try to destabilize the Jamaican Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, qualified in 10''80.
800M (H): AMOS PACKAGE
Hard blow for Nijel Amos, who was one of the big favorites on 800m. The Botswana, vice-Olympic champion in 2012, had to withdraw from the series for a few hours because of an injury to the Achilles tendon of the left foot.
Kenyans Emmanuel Kipkurui Korir (1'45''16), Ferguson Cheruiyot Rotich (1'45''98) and Ngeno Kipngetich (1'46''07), Morocco's Mostafa Smaili (1'45''27) and Oussama Nabil (1'46''17), Tunisian Abdessalem Ayouni (1'46''09) and South African Tshepo Tshite (1'46''54) validated their ticket for the semi-finals on Sunday 29 September.
400M HEDGES (H): LAHOULOU ALONE IN FINAL
Champion of Africa in 2018 and winner of the 2019 African Games, Algeria's Abdelmalik Lahoulou will be the only African in the 400m hurdles final on Monday (September 30th). The specialist qualified this Saturday, unlike Nigerian Rilwan Alowonle and Tunisian Mohamed Touati.
RELAY 4X400M (MIXED): KENYA ELIMINE
No final for Alphas Leken Kishoyian, Gladys Musyoki, Mary Moraa and Alexander Lerionka Sampao. The Kenyan quator failed to qualify in the playoffs with his time of 3'17''09.