Addis to host first WACT meet with top names
ADDIS ABABA (ETH): The first-ever WA Continental Tour meeting on Ethiopian soil, the Addis Ababa Grand Prix (WACT Bronze) on Saturday, will feature not only home aces, but also several international elite athletes. The main star, Olympic 200m champion Gabby Thomas, faces compatriot Cambrea Sturgis. Cyrena Samba-Mayela of France takes on Rayniah Jones of the USA in the 100m hurdles, and Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala runs against Italy’s Chituru Ali. Ethiopians lead the women’s 800m (Tsige Duguma and Nigist Getachew) and 1500m (Birke Haylom, Freweyni Hailu, and Saron Berhe), men’s 5000m (Berihu Aregawi and Biniam Mehary), while 3000m steeplechase features the world record holder Lamecha Girma. Other international athletes include US Eric Edwards in the 110m hurdles, 19-year-old Botswanan Justice Oratile in the 400m, and Tokyo 800m Olympic champion Ferguson Rotich of Kenya. The only field events are both long jump competitions.
