African Athletes Dominate Long and Short Distance Events at World Championships
The World Championships in athletics are currently underway at the National Stadium in Tokyo, and the middle and long-distance events are proving to be a source of surprise and excitement.
Traditionally, Africans have dominated these events, but this year, the usual hierarchy of contenders is seeing a change. Kenya and Ethiopia, historically strong in these events, are not delivering as expected, allowing for unexpected contenders to sweep the board.
One such contender is 26-year-old Portuguese athlete, Isaac Nader. On September 17, he won the world title in the 1500m, a victory that might have been considered unlikely or impossible in previous years.
Nader's win was a close race against Britain's Jake Wightman, with a margin of just two hundredths of a second (3'34''10 against 3'34''12). The final strides of the race were reminiscent of a street brawl, with both athletes giving it their all.
Reynold Cheruiyot from Kenya took bronze in the 1500m race, helping to save some African pride. His bronze medal might have been overshadowed by a haul of titles and podiums by African athletes in past years, but this time, it stands as a testament to the unexpected performances we are seeing at the World Championships.
The middle and long-distance events at the World Championships have been full of surprises, with a shift in dominance towards unexpected contenders. This change in the usual pattern has made the events even more exciting for spectators.
As the World Championships continue, it will be interesting to see if this trend of unexpected victories and performances continues. One thing is for certain, the middle and long-distance events are proving to be the highlight of the games so far.
