12th African Games in Rabat, Morocco - Track and field athletes in action |27 August 2019

Seychellois track and field athletes went into action yesterday and two of them – Dylan Sicobo and Sharry Dodin – qualified for last night’s men’s 100m semifinals after finishing third in their respective heats but could not progress to the final.

Yesterday was the first day of the five-day track and field showpiece of the 12th African Games taking place at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat, Morroco.

Dodin clocked 10.72 seconds in the third heat won by Nigerian Akinola Adeseye Ogunlewe in 10.36 seconds. In the first semifinal last night, Dodin finished eighth in 10.76 seconds.

As for Seychelles’ 100m record holder Sicobo, his time was 10.63 seconds in heat number six dominated by Gambian Ebrahim Camara in 10.21 seconds. Competing in the second semifinal last night, Sicobo clocked 10.80 seconds to finish sixth out of eight.

A third Seychellois sprinter, Leeroy Henriette lined up for the 100m heat but clocked 10.91 seconds for a sixth place finish in heat number four. It was another Nigerian, Ese Usheorite Itsekiri who won the race in 10.27 seconds.

The men’s 100m final is slated for today.

In the men’s 400m, Stefano Bibi ran in heat number six last night in search of a place in the semifinals but he failed to reach his goal as he could only take fifth position in 49.04 seconds.

The final will take place today.

Also today, Ned Azemia will line up for the men’s 400m hurdles and Natacha Chetty will take part in the women’s high jump.

Both Azemia and Chetty were gold medallists at the 10th Indian Ocean Islands Games in Mauritius last month.

In volleyball, the Seychelles women’s team played Botswana in their third and final group A match at the Salle Bouazzaoui and lost.

Seychelles clearly lacked a leader on the court and they committed too many mistakes to win any match at this level. It was no surprise then that the team captained by Petra Richard lost 1-3 (16-25, 25-22, 18-25, 19-25).

This is their second defeat as they lost in straight sets 0-3 (10-25, 19-25, 13-25) to hosts Morocco in their second group A match on Saturday.

Coached by Julien Onezime, the team have only two points after downing Nigeria 3-2 (25-23, 18-25, 25-20, 23-25, 15-11) in their first game.

In group A’s other match yesterday, Morocco were up against Nigeria who beat Botswana 3-1 (25-13, 22-25, 25-20, 25-15) in their second match.

In the women’s pool B, Kenya made up two wins in as many matches as they beat Senegal 3-0 (25-11, 25-15, 25-12) yesterday to take first place with six points. Theyovercame Cameroon 3-1 (25-22, 25-21, 16-25, 25-17) to avenge their defeat against them in the final of the 2019 Women’s African Nations Championship last month.

Cameroon have finished second with three points after also beating Senegal 3-0 (25-15, 25-23, 25-13) in their first match, while Senegal have taken third place with no points.

Both Kenya and Cameroon will progress to the cross knockout semifinals.

So far, Seychelles still have four– two gold, one silver and one bronze – medals to show at the Games.

Female swimmer Felicity Passon, who is expected back home this afternoon, won all four medals in the Mohammed V Olympic Swimming Pool.

The first Seychellois swimmer to win a gold medal at the African Games in her first appearance, 20-year-old Passon’s gold medals came in the 100m backstroke (1:02.42) and 200m backstroke (2:14.55). She also won the silver medal in the 50m backstroke (29.17 seconds for a new Seychelles record) and clocked 1:00.61 for another Seychelles record in the 100m butterfly for a bronze medal.

G. G.