Overview:
Three Ugandans; Esther Chebet, Knight Aciru and Belinda Chemutai will all line up for the 1500M final with prospects for the podium finish.
2024 CAA Africa Seniors Championship (1500M – Semifinal):
Heat 1:
- Esther Chebet (Uganda) – 4:14:22
Heat 2:
- Knight Aciru (Uganda) – 4:15:39
- Belinda Chemutai (Uganda) – 4:15:53
Three Uganda female runners qualified for the final of the 1500M event at the ongoing CAA Africa seniors championship in Douala City, Cameroon.
Esther Chebet, Knight Aciru and Belinda Chemutai made the grade to the final following hitting the mark in the semifinal heat races held on Tuesday, 25th June 2024 at the Japoma stadium.
Chebet won the first heat, the faster of the two heats with a timing of 4:14:22 during the first heat.
The Ethiopian duo of Sharon Berhe and Girma Nuramo Tigist were second and third with times of 4:14:28 and 4:14:83 respectively.
South African Carina Viljoen (4:15:93), Kenyan Caroline Nyaga (4:16:24) and Eritrea’s Roza Sale Haile (4:20:36) also qualified from the opening heat.
From the second heat, Ethiopia’s Gebre Desta Netsanet won with a time of 4:15:12.
Ugandan Knight Aciru came second with 4:15:39 ahead of Kenya’s Teresiah Gateri Muthoni (4:15:53).
Another Uganda Belinda Chemutai was fourth with 4:15:53 whilst Djibouti’s Kadra Mohamed Dembil was fifth with 4:17:06.
The sixth runner to qualify for the second heat was Nigerian James Comfort with a timing of 4:20:21.
The three Ugandans; Chebet, Aciru and Chemutai will all line up for the final with prospects for the podium finish.
On Sunday, Uganda won a gold medal in the 3000M men steeple chase race with Leonard Chemutai clocking 8:21:29 to beat the rest of the field.
Kenya settled for silver and bronze in this race with Edmond Serem and Mathew Kosgei posting 8:21:94 and 8:21:98 respectively.
Another Ugandan, Elphas Toroitich finished 8th with 8:43:91.
Tom Dradiga finished third with a timing of 1:46:69 to take bronze in the 800m men final.
Kenyan Alex Kipngetich Ngeno (1:45:02) took gold as Lesotho’s Hainguira Kethobogile was second to scoop silver with 1:45:54.
Meanwhile, in the 400M men final, Haron Adoli was fifth with a time of 45:62. Senegal’s Diouf Tidiana Cheikh clocked 45:23 to settle for gold. Lee Eppie (Botswana) and Samuel Ogazi (Nigeria) finished second and third with timing of 45:39 and 45:47 respectively.
For the 400M women final, Uganda’s Shida Leni (53:50) came 7th out of the 8 runners in the race won by South African, Miranda Coetzee (51:16).
Zambian Qincy Malekani got silver with 51:56 and Nigeria’s Joseph Elo got bronze with a time of 51:94.
The 800M women final was won by Kenya’s Sarah Moraa Orobi (2:00:27) ahead of countrymate Lillian Odira (2:00:36). The bronze was won by Mauritius runner Hajji Soukaina (2:00:91).
Uganda’s Susan Aneno completed this race in the 7th position with 2:02:54.
Action continues at these games on Wednesday, 26th June 2024 with day six action.
Team Uganda Composition at the 2024 Africa Senior Championships in Cameroon
Women
1. Lalam Josephine -Javelin
2. Leni Shida 400m
3. Chemutai Belinda 5000m
4. Chekwemoi Loice 3000m Sc
5. Chebet Esther 5000m
6. Aneno Susan 800m
7. Aciru Knight 1500m
Men
1. Okello Charles LJ/TJ
2. Adoli Haron, 400m
3. Chemutai Leonard, 3000m SC
4. Ronald Musagala 1500m
5. Dradriga Tom, 800m
6. Elphas Toroitich, 3000mSC
Officials
1. Demayi Francis, Coach
2. Nambawa Sarah, Coach
3. Noah Muzira, Official
