The young athletes from Burkina Faso have put on an impressive display at the recent U18 and U20 track and field championships held in Ouagadougou.
With a total of 67 medals, including 27 gold, 30 silver, and 10 bronze, Burkina Faso topped the podium ahead of Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Togo.
Zalissa Zongo was one of the standout performers, winning nearly six medals in gold, including a national record in the triple jump. She expressed her satisfaction at beating her personal best time, saying “I’m very happy because I broke my own record. I had 13.12.”
She hopes to improve further and compete at the Youth Olympics in Dakar and the Junior World Championships in Eugene.
The Burkinabe athletes also showed great potential, with Allan setting a new personal best time of 16.09 in the long jump.
U18 Showcases Promise
The U18 category demonstrated the potential of young Burkinabe athletes, with over a dozen national records broken. Zalissa Zongo and Allan were among the standout performers, winning nearly six medals each.
U20 Reinforces Dominance
The U20 athletes continued their impressive form, adding 28 medals to the total count, including 10 gold, 13 silver, and 5 bronze.
The Burkinabe team remains confident in their abilities, with French Vokouma, president of the Burkina Faso Athletics Federation, praising their performances.
The championships have provided a platform for young Burkinabe athletes to showcase their talent and gain experience, setting them up for success in future competitions.