Africa’s Track And Field Stars In Medal Hunt

Unlike in previous years, where Kenya has dominated the charge at the world athletics championship, this year’s edition is likely to see a multi-pronged challenge from several African countries

The event takes place in Qatar from Friday and concludes on 6 October 2019, with the action to be broadcast live on SuperSport.

East Africa and West Africa are likely to dominate the charge of Africa, but Botswana’s Nijel Amos, the Olympic 800m silver medallist, will be a strong contender. In July he ran a scorching 1:41.89 in Monaco, his fastest time in seven years, so brings outstanding form to Doha.

Meanwhile, Commonwealth 100m champion Akani Simbine will also be out to stake a claim among the world’s best.

The South African dipped under 10 seconds in Berlin last month but will probably have to produce somewhere around his 9.92 season best to contend for a medal in a strong field headed by new sensation Christian Coleman of the US.

Other continental stars to keep an eye on include Nigerian’s Tobi Amusan, the 2018 Commonwealth and 2019 African 100m hurdles champion; Selemon Barega, Ethiopia’s 19-year-old 5000m phenomenon; Kenya’s Beatrice Kipkoech, who last year shattered the 3000m steeplechase world record; reigning 5000m world champion Hellen Obiri of Kenya; and, Ivory Coast’s Marie Jose Talou, who will attempt the sprint double, having bagged silver in both 100m and 200m at the last edition, in London.

The action, which starts at 15:30 (CAT) on Friday, will be broadcast on SuperSport 13.

By Andrew Germishuys

Founder of SAMDB | Actor | Armourer | Tech Enthusiast With over two decades in the film industry, I'm a seasoned actor and skilled armourer. I hold numerous certifications in acting and filmmaking, complemented by degrees and diplomas in IT and technology, giving me a unique blend of creative and technical expertise. When I'm not on set or in the workshop, you'll find me immersed in the world of gaming and VR, fuelling my passion for cutting-edge technology. Connect with me: X / Twitter Facebook Instagram Mastodon Threads Explore my work on SAMDB IMDb