Athletics: Mauritius 2023 Vital Senior National Championships – July 8-9 |12 July 2023

Norris Brioche and Joshua Onezime won a silver medal apiece after identical performances of 1.95m

Three silver and two bronze medals in the bag

Despite the unfavorable weather conditions, our local track and field athletes managed to bring home five medals – three silver and two bronze – from the Mauritius 2023 Vital Senior National Championships, held last weekend at the Maryse Justin Stadium in Réduit.

All the three silver medals came courtesy of our high-jumpers. Norris Brioche and Joshua Onezime both managed to clear the bar at 1.95m in the male event, while Emisha Victorin finished second with a height of 1.45m among the females.

High jump also brought Seychelles a bronze medal courtesy of Liam Barbé whose final performance was 1.85m in the male event.

Seychelles’ second bronze medal was won by Dora Samson in the women’s 200m race where she finished third in 28.85 seconds.

            Coach Giovanni Fanny, who along with Joseph Volcy was accompanying the athletes, said bad weather spoilt the event, preventing our athletes from performing to the best of their abilities.

He explained that with the two upcoming Games, namely the IXes Jeux de la Francophonie scheduled to take place in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo from July 28 to August 6, and the 11th Indian Ocean Islands Games (IOIG) to be held in Madagascar from August 25 to September 3, the athletes did not take any risks on wet and slippery track to avoid any unnecessary injuries.

Comparing the performances of our local athletes to that of the Mauritians, coach Fanny said they will definitely excel at the IOIG, if they maintain their present form.

The athletes who represented the country at the Mauritius 2023 vital senior National Championships were Dylan Sicobo (100m, 200m), Leeroy Henriette (100m, 200m), Caleb Vadivello (400m), Norris Brioche, Liam Barbé, Joshua Onezime (high jump), Jerrold Alexis (100m, 200m), Yannick Magnan,  Tiphano Uranie (800m), Michel Evenor (shot put), Ricardo Suzette (110m hurdles), Shahim Mondon (110m hurdles), Shaun Magnan (800m), Paolo Beaudouin (800m), Clint Stravens (long jump), Geno Belle (5000m), Neil Azemia (400m), Ned Azemia (400m), Antoine Varigolu (100m, long jump), Angela Calva (100m), Emisha Victorin (high jump), Amelie Charles (100m), and Dara Samson (100m, long jump).

Roland Duval