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Cameroon: African Athletics Championship - Francoise Mbango Wins Gold
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The Post (Buea)
5 May 2008
Posted to the web 5 May 2008
Bernard Manyo Besong
Ethiopia
Cameroon Olympic gold medallist, Francoise Mbango, proved her critics wrong as she won gold, on Sunday, May 4, the last day of the African Athletics Championship, AAC, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Mbango jumped 14.76 in 6 trials to retain her crown. The gold medal was Cameroon's only medal in the championship and enabled the country to be ranked 11th out of 43 countries who participated in the competition. Cameroon won overall six medals that is one gold, one silver and four bronze.
Her performance is the best in the world this year and has paved the way for a good preparation ahead of the August Olympic games in Beijing.Having trained throughout the week guided by her kid sister, the triple gold medallist told reporters before the Sunday's event she was ready for the challenge.
After receiving her medal, she told the press that it was a great honour for her to win again especially for Cameroonians which she promised a good performance at the Olympic Games.
It should be recalled that, Mbango before her departure to Addis Ababa was involve in a controversy with the National Athletics Federation, headed by Ange Sama, over her participation.
The wrangling continued even after the intervention of the Minister of Sports and Physical Education, Augustine Edjoa.Mbango was allowed to participate in the championship only 72 hours to the AAC when an engagement was signed between herself and the Athletics Federation.
Hungarian Competes For Cameroon
The major attraction for Cameroon at the 16th African Athletics Championship was in the ladies hammer where, for the first time, a white woman was competing for Cameroon. Georgiana Toth, born on March 10, 1982 and a student of Hungarian nationality decided to compete for Cameroon.
Toth decided to represent Cameroon following a series of agreements signed between officials of the Cameroon Athletics Federations and Hungary.After a series of trials, Toth who threw 55.72 metres could only emerge overall fourth missing out on the bronze medal.
Her performance set a new national record before now held by Jeanne Ngo Minyemeck (51.78m). Toth came in contact with her adopted country two years ago following an encounter with FECAATHLETICS President, Ange Sama, in the United States.
The 26-year-old developed a special love for Cameroon's bravery sportsmen and women, reason why she decided to compete for Cameroon.
Medals Trickle In For Cameroon
The 16.92 metres jump by Hugo Mamba in the Men's triple jump event on Saturday, May 3, earned Cameroon a silver medal. His record was better than the national performance of 16.61 set by him but was not good enough to beat his rival, Kaba Ndiss Badji of Senegal who jumped 17.07 metres.
Before Saturday, Cameroon had obtained only three bronze medals, Carole Kaboud in the ladies 100 metres hurdles, Delphine Atangana in the women's 100metres and the 4 by 100 metres relay where the quartet of Joseph Batang Don, Francois Belinga, Alain Olivier Nyounai and Adam Idrissa kept hopes alive.
Nadege Essama won the fourth bronze medal for Cameroon after finishing third in the heptathlon. It is a difficult competition for Cameroonian athletes most of whom could not overcome adversity from South African, Ghanaian, Ethiopian, Kenyan and Nigerian athletes who seemed to have been better prepared for the championships.
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In high jump, hammer and 5000m women events, Cameroon athletes fell below the average mark. There were moments of great tension in the team especially among the female sprint athletes. Hopes of winning a medal in the 4 by 100metres female relay disappeared, after a monumental error in the transfer of the relay baton.
In the finals, Mani Leonie failed to properly collect the baton from Sergine Kouanga who had started well. Cameroon was disqualified for an error which repeating itself for the second time in 24 hours. The same mistake occurred during the semi-final series but the bravery of Delphine Atangana carried our hopes to the finals.
The high altitude in Addis Ababa is a major stumbling block for Cameroonian athletes some of whom crumbled under the weight of the adverse weather conditions. 400 metres specialist, Bouba Oscar could not compete in the discipline due to health concerns, while Marie Nga a Ngono spent days in the hospital in the Ethiopian capital due to breathing difficulties.
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