West African Athletics Tour Convenes in Dakar with Record-Breaking Sprints in 100m and 400m Hurdles
Sprinters from Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, and Côte d’Ivoire delivered Olympic-qualifying times at the Léopold Sédar Senghor Stadium during the West African Grand Prix.
Executive Intelligence Brief
- Five West African track athletes secure direct World Championship qualifications.
- Sub-10-second sprint double recorded in historic men’s 100m dash final in Dakar.
- Marie-Josée Traoré sets new regional record in women’s 400m hurdles.
- Expansion of regional athletics circuit to Abuja and Kumasi confirmed for 2027.
DAKAR, SENEGAL — The 2026 West African Athletics Grand Prix came to an exhilarating climax at the Léopold Sédar Senghor Stadium in Dakar, with five sprinters punching direct qualifying tickets for the upcoming World Athletics Championships.
In the men’s 100-meter dash, Nigerian sprint prodigy Tobi Adeyemi blazed through the tape in a blistering 9.94 seconds, edging out Ghanaian speedster Isaac Botchway (9.98s) in the fastest collegiate-grade sprint final held on West African soil this year.
In the women's 400-meter hurdles, Ivorian national champion Marie-Josée Traoré set a new stadium and regional record of 53.82 seconds, pulling away from the field with flawless technique over the final three barriers.
Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) President Kalkaba Malboum announced that regional sprint circuits will expand to Abuja and Kumasi in early 2027 to ensure West African athletes can train and qualify on home tracks.
Byline: Maurice Quansah · Published: Wednesday, October 28, 2026
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