AYAC 2013: Egypt wins first gold medal as Nigeria starts brightly - Day 1 wrap

Nigerian young athletes at a local meet / Photo credit: Yomi Omogbeja

Egypt's Amira Khaled Mahmoud won the first gold medal of the maiden edition of the Africa Youth Athletics Championships (AYAC 2013) on Thursday in Warri, Delta-State, Nigeria.

Khaled Mahmoud, 17, won the Discus event with a throw of 42.40 metres to set the tone for what will be a keenly contested four-day championships in Nigeria.

Her compatriot Fatma Khaled Abdou won silver with a throw of 36.66 metres while Benin Republic’s Carine Koukou settled for bronze with a 21.32 metres throw.

Speaking with AthleticsAfrica.Com after the event, Amira Khaleed said she was not surprised at her victory adding that it was a result of hard work.

“I happy with the Gold medal but I am not surprised,” she said.

Meanwhile Team Nigeria also had a bright start wining gold and bronze in the long jump event for male.

Joseph Oreva-Oghene Edafiadhe’s personal best leap of 6.91metres was good enough to give Nigeria her first Gold Medal While Mekonen Mesfin Abebe from Ethiopia won silver with a leap of 6.85 metres and Nigeria’s Ejumeta David Oke settled for the bronze after jumping a distance of 6.85 metres too.

In the first track event, Kenya continued their dominance of long distance races as the East Africa country won both the Gold and Silver medal of the 3000m for Girls.

Kenya’s Mercy Chepwogen breasted the tape in a time of 9:17.52 ahead of fellow Kenyan woman Daisy Jepkemei who finished second in a time 9:17:69. Mihret Tefera Adhena of Ethiopia took the bronze medal in third place clocking 9:19.40.

Medals Table - Top 3 after Day 1

Country   Gold Silver Bronze
Egypt 1 1 0
Kenya 1 1 0
Nigeria 1 0 1

 

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