Ethiopians dominate on the track at Africa Games

Ethiopian long-distance runners dominated the first day of athletics at the All-Africa Games.

The country took the top three positions in the men's 3000m steeplechase, with Birhan Getahun Shiferaw crossing the line first in 8min 17.36sec.

He was followed by Roba Gari Chubeta, with Sisay Koreme Mojo third.

In the women's 5000m, Ethiopian Sule Utura Gedo won ahead of compatriot Emebet Anteneh Mengistu and Kenyan Pauline Chemning Korikwiang was third at the Zimpeto National stadium outside the Mozambican capital.

Officials wrote down a wrong distance for Nigerian Otonye Iworima in the women's triple jump, threatening to jeopardise the victory of Algerian Baya Rahouli, who took gold with 14.02m.

Senegalese Ken Ndoye took the silver medal and Ugandan Sarah Nambawa the bronze.

In the men's discus, Egyptian Yasser Farag won with a throw of 63.20m. South Africans Victor Hogan and Rossel Tucker were second and third respectively.

South Africa dominated the cycling races through the streets of Maputo.

Lyse Burger won a neck-and-neck tussle with teammate Lise Olivier to claim gold in the women's race with a time of 1hr 30min 44sec and Aurelie Halwachs of Mauritius ended third.

All three men's medals went to South Africans, with Nolan Hoffman crossing the finish line in 3hr 36min 59sec, followed by Jay Thomson and Reinhardt Janse van Rensburg.

Senegal beat Angola 64-57 for the women's basketball title.

South Africa's sailing team wrapped up their Games campaign in style with eight medals. Twins Eben and Johan Vivier, 15, won the two-man 420 class.

In the women's Laser Radial class, South Africa took first and second place with Bridget Clayton grabbing the gold medal and Jess Deary clinching silver, while Stefano Marcia secured silver in the men's category.

The South African netball team lost 52-51 to Zambia, giving their medal chances a massive knock.
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