Kenya and South Africa achieved a clean sweep of the medals in the men’s 3000m steeplechase and the women’s high jump today, day three, at the 16th CAA African Athletics Championships in Addis Ababa.
Kenyan World championship bronze medallist Richard Mateelong (8:31.86) led Michael Kipyego (8:32.94) and All-African Games champion Willy Komen (8:41.98) to a clean sweep of the men’s 3000m steeplechase, whilst South Africa's Anika Smit jumped 1.88m to clinch gold ahead of compatriots Marcoleen Pretorius and Marizca Gertenbach (both cleared 1.84m)in the women’s high jump.
Also Kenya’s world junior 800m champion, David Rudisha won the men’s 800m final in a new world lead and African championship record in 1:44.20.
Sudanese Ismail Ahmed Ismail clinched the silver medal with 1:45.41 ahead of another Kenyan Asbel Kiprop took bronze in 1:46.02.
All-African Games 400m hurdles champion Louis Van Zyl of South Africa won comfortably in 48.91 seconds, with Algeria's Hamad Abderahmane taking the silver and Mali’s Ibrahim Abdoulaye winning bronze with both timed at 49.84 seconds.
Ethiopia’s Gelete Burka stormed to a championship record time of 4:08.25 to win the women's 1,500m gold ahead of Meskerem Assefa (4:13.91) and Namibia’s Agnes Samaria (4:16.19).