Grieving Alkana on the gold trail

MOTHER’S DEATH WEIGHED HEAVILY ON HIM SA top standings with 21 medals, which include six golds.

Admitting he was relieved to pick up a medal after a challenging year both on and off the track, hurdles specialist Antonio Alkana secured an emotional victory on Saturday, shining for the national team on day four of the African Athletics Championships.

Alkana coasted over the bumpy track at Stephen Keshi Stadium, winning the men’s 110m hurdles final in 13.51 seconds.

The national record holder admitted he was frustrated by a delayed start, with the athletes being held in the call room for nearly an hour before the gun was fired, but he was pleased to have successfully defended the continental title he won in Durban two years ago.

“It was a tough season. It started with injury and then we had a death in the family. My mother passed away in January and she was my biggest supporter,” Alkana said.

“I’m just glad to have done what I came here to do, and to be running injury-free again.”

The national team picked up three more silvers on Saturday, as their bag of medals continued to swell.

Former Olympic long jump medallist Khotso Mokoena finished second after a tightly contested battle in the men’s triple jump, producing a best leap of 16.83m, while Valco van Wyk took the runner-up spot in the men’s pole vault by clearing the bar at 5.10m and Jo-Ane van Dyk was second in the women’s javelin throw final after launching a 53.72m heave.

After four days of competition, the SA team remained top of the table with a total of 21 medals, including six golds.

They were expecting a few more late yesterday in the final session of the championships, spearheaded by Caster Semenya who was aiming to defend her African 800m title after winning 400m gold earlier in the week.

It was a tough season. It started with injury and then we had a death in the family. My mother passed away in January. She was my biggest supporter. Antonio Alkana SA hurdler