Luanda - The National Athletics Team aim to improve their individual marks in the 23rd edition of the African Championship for seniors, both in male and female category, from the 21st to the 26th of this month, in Douala, Cameroon, the national coach, Fernando Capassa said Thursday in Luanda Province.
Speaking to ANGOP, he added that Angola also wants to occupy top positions.
To him, Petro de Luanda's sprinter, Marcos dos Santos, stands out as the best Angolan record holder, reaching the mark of 100 meters (10 seconds and 4 tenths) and 200 meters (20 seconds and 96 tenths), at the African games in Accra in 2024 edition held in Ghana.
With the mark of 21.15, recorded in the World Championship, held in Budapest, Hungary-2022, Marcos dos Santos broke the record that lasted 31 years, established by Afonso Ferraz, in 1992, in the world cup in Braga, Portugal.
The athlete who plays at Bichos do Mato team, António Teko, was part of the group of those called up due to the last provincial and national athletics competitions in the country.
The long-distance runner participated for the first time in the African games in Accra (Ghana 2024), where he finished in 16th position out of 45 runners.
He also participated in the 5000 meter track race, with a time of 14: 54.61 seconds and the 10,000 meters, with a time of 30: 56.45 seconds.
The coach explained that the trip, initially scheduled for Wednesday (19), was postponed until this Thursday (20).
According to the ANGOP source, technical failures, communication between the bank and travel agency resulted in delays in the delivery of tickets.
Marcos dos Santos, António Teko, Arão Simão, Ruth Muata, Joana Haleca, Carolina Yondengue and Victória Cassinda are part of the national team.
Kenya are the title holders, won in the last edition (2022), in Saint Pierre, Mauritius.
IN/MC/MRA/jmc
