Limited African Presence in Hurdle Races

Africa continues to make a significant impact in the 3000-meter steeplechase at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, which are being held from August 1 to 11 at the renowned Stade de France. However, representation from Africa has decreased in other hurdles events.

In the 100-meter hurdles for women and the 110-meter hurdles for men, as well as the 400-meter hurdles for both genders, African participation is limited. Only six African athletes are competing in these hurdles events:

- **100-meter Hurdles (Women):** Marione Fourie from South Africa and Sidonie Fiadanantsoa from Madagascar will represent the SADC region.

- **400-meter Hurdles (Women):** Zenéy Geldenhuys and Rogail Joseph from South Africa.

- **400-meter Hurdles (Men):** Victor Ntweng from Botswana.

No athletes from the 16 SADC countries have qualified for the 3000-meter steeplechase. However, the following countries are represented:

- **Ethiopia:** Sembo Almayew (9:07.26, 9th seed) and Lomi Muleta (9:21.76, 22nd seed).

- **Kenya:** Beatrice Chepkoech (8:55.40, 2nd seed), Faith Cherotich (9:04.45, 5th seed), and Jackline Chepkoech (9:19.64, 19th seed).

- **Uganda:** Peruth Chemutai (8:55.09, 1st seed).

For the men's 3000-meter steeplechase:

- **Algeria:** Bilal Tabti (8:23.32, 77th seed).

- **Ethiopia:** Lamecha Girma (8:01.63, 1st seed), Abrham Sime (8:02.36, 2nd seed), Samuel Firewu (8:05.78, 4th seed), and Getnet Wale (8:09.69, 9th seed).

- **Kenya:** Amos Serem (8:02.36, 2nd seed), Abraham Kibiwot (8:06.70, 5th seed), Leonard Kipkemoi Bett (8:12.97, 14th seed), and Simon Kiprop Koech (8:18.45, 37th seed).

- **Morocco:** Soufiane El Bakkali (8:09.40, 6th seed), Mohamed Tindouft (8:14.10, 21st seed), and Faid El Mostafa (8:18.63, 38th seed).

- **Tunisia:** Mohamed Amin Jhinaoui (8:09.41, 7th seed) and Ahmed Jaziri (8:20.49, 50th seed).

- **Uganda:** Leonard Chemutai (8:21.30, 61st seed).

For the hurdles events in 2024:

**100-meter Hurdles (Women):**

- **Top Three:** Masai Russell (USA, 12.25s), Ackera Nugent (Jamaica, 12.28s), Cyréna Samba-Mayela (France, 12.31s).

**110-meter Hurdles (Men):**

- **Top Three:** Grant Holloway (USA, 12.86s), Freddie Crittenden (USA, 12.93s), Daniel Roberts (USA, 12.96s).

**100-meter Hurdles (SADC Women):**

- **Madagascar:** Sidonie Fiadanantsoa (12.85s, 61st).

- **South Africa:** Marione Fourie (12.49s, 15th).

**110-meter Hurdles (SADC Men):**

- None.

**Rest of Africa:**

- **100-meter Hurdles (Women):**

- **Liberia:** Ebony Morrison (12.70s, 36th).

- **Nigeria:** Tobi Amusan (12.40s, 12th).

- **110-meter Hurdles (Men):**

- **Algeria:** Amine Bouanani (13.45s, 77th).

- **Senegal:** Louis François Mendy (13.34s, 41st).

**400-meter Hurdles (Women):**

- **Top Three:** Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (Australia, 50.65s), Femke Bol (Netherlands, 50.95s), Rushell Clayton (Jamaica, 52.51s).

**400-meter Hurdles (Men):**

- **Top Three:** Rai Benjamin (USA, 46.46s), Alison Dos Santos (Brazil, 46.63s), Karsten Warholm (Norway, 46.70s).

**400-meter Hurdles (SADC):**

- **Women:**

- **South Africa:** Zenéy Geldenhuys (54.72s, 25th), Rogail Joseph (54.84s, 31st).

- **Men:**

- **Botswana:** Victor Ntweng (48.82s, 41st).

**Rest of Africa:**

- **400-meter Hurdles (Women):**

- **Cameroon:** Linda Angounou (56.23s, 84th).

- **Morocco:** Noura Ennadi (55.03s, 39th).

- **400-meter Hurdles (Men):**

- **Nigeria:** Ezekiel Nathaniel (48.00s, 14th).– [email protected]