May 15, 2017 By Sahr Morris Jnr
Sierra Leone duo; Moses Smart and Hassan Yillah both earned the country’s first double medals at the ongoing West Africa Region II Senior Championships and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) junior tournament in Conakry, Guinea.
Moses Smart finished third in the 800m senior men to grab bronze medal, while Hassan Yillah secured the first bronze medal in the field event as he also settled in third place in the U-20 Shot Put battle.
The tournament continues in neighbouring Guinea with the rest of Team Sierra Leone expected to compete in over five events; 1500m male/female, 400m male/female, 200m male/female, 100m male/female and shot put male/female.
Sierra Leone could have hosted this year’s event but the country’s Athletics Association (SLAA) pulled-out from hosting the championship, almost at the 72 hours expiration grace period given by the President of Athletics Region Zone II Federation, Momar Mbaye.
According to the SLAA president, Abdul Karim Sesay, the decision to pull out from hosting the competition at the tail end was due to the then ongoing rehabilitation of the country’s National Stadium, which was the planned venue for the competition.
However, the Sports Ministry refuted such statement, stating that they only recognized the Martin Bangura led SLAA administration and not the Sesay’s body recognized by the international body, IAAF.