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Summer 2002

African championships, Tunis 6-10 August

Juillet

Selections for Commonwealth Games, Manchester (GB) 25 July-4 August
South Africa: The South African team is going to Manchester with lower ambitions as expected, as the team is decimated by last-minute withdrawals due to injuries: Jacques Freitag (ankle ligament rupture), Brian Erasmus (femur fracture during training), Surita Febbraio (stress fracture), Drienkie van Wyk (knee and elbow surgery), Llewellyn Herbert, Alwyn Myburgh, Paul Gorries, Makhosonke Fika, Hendrick Mokganyetsi.
Above all, Ezekiel Sepeng was excluded from the team for failing to join Manchester while his current whereabouts were unknown. He was apparently stranded at the airport in the Netherlands for two days before he could find a place to go back to South Africa to seek treatment for an injury.

Kenya: Joseph Mutua, Japhet Kimutai (800m); William Chirchir, David Kiplak (1500m); Benjamin Limo, Willy Kirui, Sammy Kipketer (5000m) ; Paul Kosgei, John Korir, Wilberforce Talel(10000m); Stephen Cherono, Ezekiel Kemboi, Abraham Cherono (3000m steeple); Erick Wainaina, Joshua Chelanga (marathon); David Kimutai (20Km marche). Femmes: Faith Macharia, Selina Kosgei (800m); Jackline Maranga, Naomi Mugo (1500m); Edith Masai, Iness Chenonge (5000m); Susan Chepkemei (10000m); Esther Maina (marathon); Officials - Francis Nyatome (Manager), Alice Adala (chaperon), Dan Muchoki, Rose Tata Muya (Coaches).
The Kenyan federation surprisingly selected Japhet Kimutai, who finished last in the 800m final. 1500m winner Bernard Lagat declined a selection to focus on the world record and the African championships.

Nigeria: 41 athletes, among whom Deji Aliu, Tamunosiki Atorudibo (sprint), Enefiok Udo-Obong (400m), Chima Ugwu (shot put, discus); Women: Pauline Ibeagha (sprint), Sorocukwu Ihuefo (javelin)
A controversy has arisen because Mary Onyali, Chioma Ajunwa and Falilat Ogunkoya were not included in the team. All of them were injured at the time of the trials and couldn't compete or failed to qualify, like Falilat Ogunkoya, who still made the trip to Nigeria. Concerning Endurance Ojokolo, she's not been selected because of her problems with British justice (see September 2001 News).

Zambia: Obed Mutanya, Addeh Mwamba, Prince Mumba and Sylvester Chishiba

Zimbabwe: Jeffrey Masvanise, Elijah Mutandiro, Tawanda Chiwira, Lewis Banda, Young Talkmore Nyongani and Brian Dzingai
Sprinters Philip Mukomana and Winnet Dube were late inclusions to the team in regard to their recent performances, after the withdrawal of Elijah Mutandiro, grieving the loss of a child.

June

Blida meet report (Algeria, June 20th)

Kenya championships (Kasarani stadium) 20-22 juin

1500m olympic champion Noah Ngeny didn't take part in the event: he requested to be exempted from the trials to focus on his world record attempt in Rome.

3000m steeple olympic champion Reuben Kosgei and 5000m world champion Richard Limo chose to skip their specialist distance to compete in 1500m. They both failed to qualify to the final.

Ismael Kirui's younger brother, Willy Kirui, finished second in the 5000m won by Benjamin Limo.

Half-marathon world champion Paul Kosgei ran the fastest 10000m ever in Kenya. En 27'44"14, he slashes more than 3 seconds off Charles Kamathi previous record (27'47"33).

The 3000m steeple was almost a family matter as Cherono brothers, Stephen and Abraham - also former world champion Christopher Koskei's brothers, were respectively ranked 1st and 3rd of the final, in a race where Bernard Barmasai and Wilson Boit Kipketer were both defeated.

On the women's side, Susan Chepkemei, a silver medallist in the half-marathon world championships, won the 10000m, defeating Catherine Ndereba by 12 seconds (32'38"3 for 32'50"2).

First withdrawals one month before the Commonwealth Games
South Africa will miss two medal contenders, 400m hurdles runner Surita Febbraio (54"45 in 2002), because of a stress fracture and shot putter Drienkie van Wyk (17,88m), who will have to undergo elbow and knee surgery.
Besides, 10000m world champion, Charles Kamathi, won't probably be at his top for the Kenyan trials this week-end because of a groin injury that has been disturbing his preparation for several months.