Review of 2013 Track & Field Season
failed to defend her world title in Moscow, placing second after Britain’s Christine Ohuruogu.
Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare and Ivorian Murielle Ahoure held up Africa’s sprinting hopes. Okagbare ran an African record of 10.79 seconds in the 100 meters, but had a tough workload in Moscow and only placed sixth in the final. Ahoure also ran under 11 seconds with a national record of 10.91 seconds, and took silver medal in Moscow world championships.
In the 200 meters Ahoure proved faster than Okagbare and ran the second best time in the world which was also a national record of 22.24 seconds for her native Ivory Coast. Okagbare wasn’t much worse with the fifth best time in the world, of 22.31. Africa got two medals in the world championships final, as Ahoure took silver ahead of Okagbare.
Okagbare too got two medals despite missing out in the 100 meters; she took silver in the long jump with 6.99m. She also jumped the fourth longest jump of the year of 7.01m.
Africans controlled the middle and long distance world lists on both men’s and women’s sides despite the absence of 800 meters world record holder David Rudisha.
Young Ethiopian Mohamed Aman took advantage of Rudisha’s absence. Aman won the world championships and ran a world leading time which was also a national and junior national record of 1.42.37 for Ethiopia in the 800 meters. He only lost one early season race: to Rudisha.
The women’s 800 meters was full of surprises. The world leader, Francine Niyonsaba from Burundi, with
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