Mahwah, NJ:  Cheickna Traore, former Ramapo College track & field standout, is competing in the 2023 Francophone Games with the Ivory Coast. 
 
Traore competed with the Ivory Coast's 4x100m relay team which took home the gold medal with a combined time of 39.2 seconds, he ran the third leg. On Thursday, Traore competed in the 200m prelims where he finished in second to advance to the semifinal rounds. He posted a time of 20.63 seconds in the semifinal which is the second fastest time entering the finals on Friday. 
 
The Francophone Games are being held in the capital city of Kinshasa of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Opening Ceremonies were held on July 28th which brought together a total of 42 nations to compete in nine sports but also a range of cultural activities, including dance music, poetry sculpture and painting.