Athletics: A minimum of 25 athletes qualify for All Africa Games

Some athletes have earned their ticket to Brazzaville after the 6th national selection held last weekend in Yaoundé.

Despite the bad weather in the capital, twenty clubs agreed to meet on July 11 and 12 at Omnisport Stadium on the occasion of the 6th national selection in Yaoundé.

After the first trial in Bafoussam which had athletes like sprinter Jean Tarcisius Batambock achieve the minimum 100 m, other athletes managed to achieve the necessary points to participate in the Brazzaville Games.

Another is Sandrine Mbumi who scored 14.16 meters in the women’s triple jump. "We'll get back to training quickly to improve. My goal is to participate in the finals of the next World Championships. For All Africa Games, we will aim clearly for the title," said the athlete.

Others who performed exceptionally were Marie Gisèle Eleme Asse, 100m ladies, with an 11'5 seconds record and Liliane Nguetsa an 800m athlete.

“I am very pleased with the performances recorded so far. They have shown good prospects. We currently have whopping 25 minimum athletes to take part in athletics at the All Africa Games. There will be the selection for the Central African championship. This competition is a springboard for the Africa Games which will allow us to be a step closer to the Olympic Games," said Michel Nkolo, the national technical director of athletics.

Among the athletes who have achieved the minimum time for the Africa Games were new revelations from the University Games like William Feumbah, Eleme Asse and Germaine Abessolo in sprinting.

"We must congratulate all state universities and colleges. Athletes who won the University Games took part in the competition. It proves that work is done in these institutions," said Michel Nkolo.

However there were some who were not skillful enough but hoped to catch up at the next selections. This is the case of Armand Tsoaoule, winner of the long jump and the triple jump.

"Even if I won two competitions, I am not satisfied with my performances which were below what I'm capable of doing. The weather conditions were unfavorable to us and the training conditions were not the best. There are many other factors that have not allowed us to achieve the minimum time for the All Africa Games," he said.

Athletes will begin their external camping this week in preparation for the National Championship and Central African championships to be held in Yaoundé next month.