Nigeria to send 154 for Africa meeting

By Mutwiri Mutuota

Preliminary entries for the 17th Africa Athletics Championships have started flowing in with Nigeria leading the numbers with 154 competitors.

Perennial distance running rivals, Ethiopia follow with 86, Sudan (80) and the hosts of the next edition, Benin (50) also weighing in as the April 14 deadline for final entry submission nears.

While confirming the receipt of the preliminary entries, Nairobi 2010 Local Organising Committee (LOC) CEO, David Okeyo also disclosed hosts Kenya would field three entries in all 57 disciplines that will be competed (29 men and 27 women) to bring the local total number to 171 athletes.

Okeyo was speaking to the press yesterday when Nairobi City Council (NCC) officially came on board as partners for Nairobi 2010 at a function held at the Mayor’s Parlour in City Hall.

"We expect 1,300 entries from the other 52 African States. The fact that we will enter competitors in all disciplines does not mean our athletes should relax. We shall hold our Trials. We also expect 700 dignitaries to bring the number of visitors to 2,000," Okeyo said.

Civic body

On hand to seal the stamp of approval for the partnership between the LOC and NCC were Nairobi Mayor, Geoffrey Majiwa and Town Clerk, Philip Kisia.

The civic body acceded to LOC’s request to waive fees for banners and other promotional events of popularising Nairobi 2010 in the city while also pledging to spruce up and decorate the capital in readiness for the June 28 to August 1 continental championships.

"We shall forward two senior officers at the council to the LOC who will advise us on what we need to do to support the event fully," Majiwa revealed. The civic leader also pledged his body would make Nairobi friendly for the influx of visitors expected, a promise supported by Kisia.

"We are in this now officially and we shall work to ensure Nairobi 2010 is a success," the Town Clerk expressed.

Top runners

With the announcement of preliminary entries, the LOC said while it was early to give out particular star participants, they were expecting the continent’s top athletes to grace Nairobi since the championships are qualifiers for the Athletics World Cup later on this year.

"We are in a lucky position that Africa’s team for the World Cup will be selected here meaning all top runners in the continent will be entered," Okeyo said.

Among those said to be harbouring keen interest to run in Nairobi is recently minted twice World Indoor 800m champion, Abubaker Kaki Khamis of Sudan who won his second closed circuit global title on Sunday, beating Kenya’s Boaz Kiplagat Lalang in Doha. Kaki opted to compete in the 4X400m relay at the 2008 Addis Ababa edition.