Top 10 African Athletes in 2015 (Part 1)

Having started from home last week with Nigeria’s Top 12 athletes, in this series, attention will now shift to the continent as we look at our Top 10 athletes in Africa.

By all means it was a richly rewarding year for African athletes who excelled on the global scene with heroics in their events. For Kenya to emerge tops at the 2015 World Championships, beating powerhouses like the United States, Jamaica and Russia, underlines the success churned out from this side of the divide.

Even in the Diamond League (DL), African athletes matched others as they raked in enough points to win Diamond Race trophies at the end of the season.

So who has done enough to merit a place in our ranking and to impress our panel of judges? Find out as we begin the countdown with Part 1 of the series featuring Nos.10 to 6:

                                                                10)  Nijel Amos

This is yet another Bostwanan athlete  putting his country’s name on the global map with his heroics in Athletics. Although Amos was 3rd in our ratings last year, the 800m runner has gone down seven places to 10th in 2015. He had an impressive 2014 that saw him win three titles and was truly outstanding.

It wasn’t all bad for the 21-year old; just that not qualifying for the final became the only blot in his copybook. He still has a lot of accolades to present this year, having retained his Diamond Race trophy, with the highlight coming from the Lausanne Diamond League where he beat World Record holder, David Rudisha, clocking 1:43.27 in a new Season’s Best.

He was not himself after the race, needing medical assistance to be stretchered out of the arena. It was a result that launched him for a possible 800m title, but a small tactical error in the semis cost him dearly as he missed an opportunity and had to endure watching Rudisha go unchallenged to win in a time of 1:45.84.

He made up for that, coming to Brazzaville to win his first African Games title, running to win GOLD in 1:50.45. The Olympics is next year and he remains the biggest challenger who can match Rudisha for that title when they line up in Rio.