Athletics Delegation Returns From African Championship

By Julu M. Johnson, Jr.

The Liberian delegation to the 15th African Athletics championship is back in the country.

The national athletics squad was in Bambous, Mauritius to compete in the festival that was held from August 9 to 13, 2006.

The team returned last week and was headed by Eric Williams, President of the Liberia Athletics Federation (LAF) and comprised the national head coach, Frederick Massaquoi.

Apart from one local athlete, Anthony Whea, the rest of the country’s participants came from the United States, where they are based.

Cadeau Kelley ended in sixth place of the long Jump Men Final, while Tuan Wreh finished in fourth place of the Triple Jump Men Final.

In the 400 meter Women Final, Kou Luogon stopped in 7th place of the event that involved eight athletes. She qualified earlier in third place of the third heat.

Bobby Young, Augustine Schmader, Anthony Whea and Cyrus Wesley formed the 4 X 100 meter Relay Team.

Varney Saidu, Lewis Marvin, Oneill Wright and Bobby Young were in the 4 X 400 meter Relay Team.

Oneill Wright also reached the final of the 400 meter Men Hurdles yet he could not do more than that.

Liberia could not grab a medal, but coach Massaquoi was delighted that most of the athletes were able to reach the various finals.

He believes that the athletes would do more in subsequent championships.

The chief patron of Liberian athletics, who is a former athlete that competed in the Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2006 Olympic Games, Dr. Ann Grace Dinkins was present in Mauritius to encourage the athletes and to witness the championship.

Meanwhile, Korkulo Roberts has returned to the country from Beijing, China, where he took part in the 2006 World Youth Championship in athletics.