21 Aug 2018

Since the inception of (IAAF) Continental Cup, Africa has never done well despite having a pool of athletes who always terrorise their European, American and Asia-Pacific counterparts on track.

Countries like Botswana, who specialise in 400m, Kenya in long distance, South Africa, Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire in sprints, have over time conquered different IAAF competitions.

In 2010 in Croatia, Africa finished third with 293 points, while in position one was the Americas with 422.5 points, followed by Europe with 417, while Asia Pacific finished in position four with 290.5 points.

In 2014 in Marrakech, Africa failed to enjoy the home ground advantage as they defended their third place position after garnering 339, while the championship was won by Europe with 447.5, in position two was the Americas with  390, while Asia Pacific settled for position four with  257.5.

Expectations were that in this edition, Africa will improve its position, looking at the pool of athletes they had selected as the IAAF Continental Cup starts from September 8-9 in Ostrava,

Czech Republic.

Kenya Broadcasting Corporation, sports broadcaster Daniel Wahome said the Americas were a threat in the mixed relay.

He said the field events remained the weak link in the chain for Africa, but on the track and long jump, the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) flag will fly higher.

Furthermore, he said Africa’s squad was selected based on the performance of the athletes at Asaba 2018 and in line with the IAAF regulations that restricted entrants per event except the relays which were restricted to one per country.

The squad selection criteria, he said worked well for the 800 metres where Nijel Amos and Emmanuel Korir made the squad as they held different passports.

He however said leaving long jump World Leader like Luvo Manyonga might not benefit the region.

Talking about the relay, Wahome said his ideal 4x400m relay team would be Baboloki Thebe, Emmanuel Korir, Caster Semenya and Christine Botlogetswe with South Africa’s Cornel Fredricks and Nigeria’s Gloria Nathaniel as reserves.

“This is because with the exception of a steady off the blocks athlete, the 4x4 is about speed with a less challenging change over compared to the one lap relay. The mixed relay is also dependent on the team order, which can be Man-Woman-Man-Woman, or any other that the team sprints boss may pick,” he said.

He said while athletes were given 24-hour recovery periods, if they run in the 800m or 400m, the Ostrava showcase would be a two day event, and therefore there was a need to pick speedsters who were out of the top two to deliver the goods.

He said as the Intercontinental Cup had no heats, it meant athletes shoot from the start.

“Africa can get the maximum points from Caster Semenya, Hellen Obiri, Beatrice Chepkoech, Amusan Tobi, Amos or Korir, Marie-Josée Ta Lou, Thebe, and Edward Zakayo. But look out for the world’s fastest U18 Filip Ingebrigtsen in the 1 500m and 3 000m, Evan Jager in the 3 000m SC, Aisha Praught and Emma Coburn in the steeplechase, and Dafne Schippers in the 200m,” he said. ENDS