Yomi Omogbeja (17/07/2005)

African youngsters have continue to dominate their events at the ongoing 4th IAAF/Maroc Telecom world youth athletics championships which ends today in Marrakech, Morrocco.

Sudanese pair of Adam Mohammed Al-Nour and Nawal El Jack shocked bookmakers with world leading performances to win both boys and girls 400 metres title.

Al-Nour followed up on his rock solid consistency in the preliminary rounds, displaying effective pace judgement and steady acceleration to win his 400m race in a personal best 46.56 seconds.

The homegrown rookie consigned Kenya's Julius Kirwa (46.70 seconds) and American Bryshom Nellum (46.81 seconds) to second and third positions respectively.

The pair of Sudanese rookies running with the abandonment their lack of experience has yet to curtail, scored a glorious double for their nation in Marrakech.

El Jack betrayed her lack of experience and rookie status with a stunning run in the girls 400 metres.

She moved on from an opening world leading 52.22 seconds in her heat to then smashed the four-year-old championship record of American Stephanie Smith inher semi-final.

Her time of 51.83 seconds bettered Smith's four-year-old time of 52.19 seconds. Yet, doubters still wondered whether the homegrown Sudanese girl, without proper kits, could go any further.

But, El Jack confirmed the gold medal in stunning form lowering the championship record again to 51.19 seconds - well inside the IAAF's World Athletics Championships qualifying 'A' standards (51.50 seconds) for Helsinki.

Croatian Daniela Grgic claimed the silver medal in a personal best of 51.30 seconds while Cuba's Aymee Martinez took bronze medal in 52.04 seconds.

Kenyan 1-2

Kenya's Gilbert Kipkurui Keter led a Kenyan one-two in the Boys' 800m final with a new championships record of 1 minute 48.42 seconds beating compatriot Jackson Kivuna to second place in a personal best 1 minute 48.57 seconds.

South Africa's Jan Masenamela,17, initially disqualifed in his heat but then reinstated, was third 1 minute 49.73 seconds.

Kenyan Sheila Chepkirui upsets the World 1500m leader Japanese Yuriko Kobayashi to snatch the girl's race in a championship record of 4 minutes 12.29 seconds, smashing Australia's Georgie Clark's four year-old championship record of 4 minutes 14.08 seconds.

Kobayashi was second in a personal best 4 minutes, 13.96 seconds and Ethiopian Urgesa Bizunesh Mohammed third in a personal best 4 minutes, 19.34 seconds.

Outstanding Du Toit and Feleke

South African 16-year-old wonderkid Simone du Toit, was in outstanding form once again adding the shot put gold medal to the Discus silver she won on Thursday.

Her winning distance of 16.33 metres is the leading distance by a youth athlete in the world this year and also a new national Under 18 record. The previous national record of 16.11m was set by Veronica Abrahamse in Bloemfontein in 1997.

Bo Li of China produced her best effort of 15.92m to snatch second while Dani Samuels of Australia was third with a distance of 15.53m.

Ethiopian Abrehem Cherkos Feleke controlled the 3000 metres boys race in the famous Bekele style to become the second runner from the Horn of African country to win the title.

Feleke led compatriot Ibrahim Gashu returned 8 minutes, 04.21 seconds.

Bahrain's Ishaq Isa Abedeen was placed third in 8 minutes,08.57 seconds, ahead of Eritrean Issak Shibhatu, who was fourth in 8 minutes, 08.59 seconds.