June 16, 2016 By Sahr Morris Jr.
Sierra Leone’s United States of America (USA) based female quintet will this year represent the country at the Confederation of Africa Athletics (CAA) Senior Championships in Durban, South Africa, from June 22-26.
The quintet: Maggie Barrie, Aisha Naibe Nye, George Janice, Hafsatu Kamara and Ngozi Musa will all compete in the 100 meters individual event and also the 4x100m relay team. Aisha Naibe Nye will also participate in the 400m hurdles event.
Team Sierra Leone’s participation was confirmed after the tournament organising committee revealed the names, country, event and time of all the 719 potential athletes that will be part of the meet.
The Sierra Leonean athletes will also hope to use the championship to secure a qualifying standard time for the forthcoming Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil.
An official statement released by the President of Athletics South Africa, Aleck Skhosana, stated that the country was looking forward to welcoming the world to a true African experience at the CAA 20th edition of the African Senior Championships.
He said: “With the current count, 43 countries and 719 athletes will compete in this year’s event which is going to be an action-packed continental Track and Field feast and at deadline on 12 June, applicants for media accreditation stood at just over 100 journalists.
“We expect the number of countries to rise and this naturally means the athletes’ numbers will swell also well. But the list of athletes who have already been entered, reflect quality and class of the Championship ahead.
“The possibility of having records broken is very real and we note that the athletes from all over the continent are excited. We say to them, we are more than ready to host them and showoff the true hospitality of a Rainbow Nation.”