- Effective participation of 19 countries (35 absent).
- 7 countries in the placing table (having at least 1 athlete in the top 8)
- 4 countries in the medal table, as Kenyan topped the medal table with 11 medals, Ethiopia was 4th with 9 medals and South Africa was 6th with 4 medals.
Countries in medal table
KENYA: 26 athletes / 1st rank in medal table and 2nd rank in placing table
11 medals – 6 gold: Solomon Lekuta (800m), George Manangoi (1500m), Edward Zakayo (5000m), Rhonex Kipruto (10000m 27:21.08 CR), Beatrice Chebet (5000m W), Celliphine Chespol (3000st W 9:12.78 CR) / 4 silver: Ngeno Kipngetich (800m), Stanley Waithaka (5000m), Leonard Bett (3000st), Miriam Cherop (1500m W) / 1 bronze: Justus Soget (1500m)
ETHIOPIA 29 athletes / 4th rank in medal table and 4th rank in placing table
9 medals – 3 gold: Takele Nigate (3000st), Diribe Welteji (800m W 1:59.74), Alemaz Samuel (1500m W) / 2 silver: Meselu Berhe (3000m W), Ejgayehu Taye (5000m W) / 4 bronze: Berihu Aregawi (10000m), Getnet Wale (3000st), Tsigie Gebreselama (3000m W), Girmawit Gebrzihair (5000m W)
SOUTH AFRICA: 19 athletes / 6th rank in medal table, 12th rank in placing table /
4 medals – 3 gold: Kyle Blignaut (shot put), Slokwakhana Zazini and Zeney van der Walt (400H), 1 bronze for Breyton Poole (high jump)
UGANDA: 11 athletes /26th rank in medal table, 15th rank in placing table
2 silver medals for Jacob Kiplimo (10000m) and Peruth Chemutai (3000st W)
=> South Africa is the only African country with athletes already competitive at the world level in technical events in the U20 category
=> Ultra-domination of East Africa in the distance events with thrilling races, close finishes, and the emergence of a new generation, but the medals in age category competition won’t have the credibility they should have so long suspicions of age cheating persist and the IAAF and national federations don’t decide to really tackle the issue (with bone testing for example).
Countries in placing table only [nb of athletes + top placing]
ERITREA: 4 athletes / 43rd in placing table / Dolshi Tesfu (6th 5000m W)
ALGERIA 11 athletes / 54th placing table / Oussama Cherrad (7th 1500m)
MOROCCO: 10 athletes / 54th in placing table / Mohamed Er Rachdi (7th 3000m steeple)
Other participating countries [nb of athletes + top placing]
CHAD: 1 athlete / Ali Hissen Mahamat (16th 10000m final)
DJIBOUTI: 1 athlete / Idleh Aden (15th 5000m final)
EGYPT: 2 athletes / Motaz El Gohary (25th shot put qualifications)
MADAGASCAR: 1 athlete / Rija Vatomanga Gardiner (39th 400m heats)
NAMIBIA: 1 athlete / Sandro Diergaardt (13th in long jump qualifications)
SEYCHELLES: 1 athlete / Stefano Bibi (43rd 400m heats)
SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE: 1 athlete / (36th 200m heats)
SUDAN: 1 athlete / Yousif Ramadan (DQ 5000m final)
SWAZILAND: 1 athlete / Simanga Maseko (38th 1500m heats)
TUNISIA: 5 athletes / Aziz Jdai (16th 3000st heats)
ZAMBIA: 3 athletes / Kennedy Luchembe (17th in 400m semi-final)
ZIMBABWE: 4 athletes / Dickson Kapandura (17th in 200m semi-final) – 4x400m team (10th of the heats with new NR)
*Refugee team: 2 athletes / Dominic Lokolong Atiol (35th 1500m heats)
Absentees (35)
14 countries that were entered: BOTSWANA, BURKINA FASO, BURUNDI, CAMEROON, COTE D’IVOIRE, DR CONGO, GAMBIA, GHANA, LESOTHO, LIBYA, NIGERIA, SENEGAL, SIERRA LEONE, SOUTH SUDAN
21 countries not entered: ANGOLA, BENIN, CABO VERDE, CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC, COMOROS, CONGO, EQUATORIAL GUINEA, GABON, GUINEA, GUINEA-BISSAU, LIBERIA, MALAWI, MALI, MAURITANIA, MAURITIUS, MOZAMBIQUE, NIGER, RWANDA, SOMALIA, TANZANIA, TOGO
=> Disappointing to see that some qualified athletes were unable to travel to Finland and deprived from the opportunity to compete internationally due to lack of funds or poor administration. It seems that one country apparently sent a delegation with fake athletes/officials just for immigration purposes.
Full results of the IAAF World U20 championships on the IAAF website