BARCELONA ’92 OLYMPICS / DAY 14 : Africans Don’t Need Fanfare : Distance running: They continue their domination of long events, but also are beginning to show depth in sprints.

Americans get a lot of attention when they win. Africans win quietly, but often.

When three Kenyans ran single-file across the finish line in the 3,000-meter steeplechase Friday night, it became the first time the nation had swept the medals in an event they dominate.

Since 1968, Kenya has participated in five Olympic Games, and boycotted two. In those five Games, Kenyan runners have won every steeplechase gold medal. Four times they have won at least the gold and silver medals.

Taking Africa as a whole, the stranglehold on the middle distance and distance events continues. So far, Africans have swept the 10,000 meters here and finished 1-2 in the 800.

And now, for the first time in Olympic competition, African sprinters are showing depth. Three made the final in both the 100 and 200.

In fact, the 400 is the only event on the track in which Africans aren’t dominant. At the 1988 Seoul Olympics, runners from African nations won every event from 800 to 10,000 meters. That feat was duplicated at the track and field World Championships at Tokyo last year.

African women are beginning to emerge as well. In the 10,000 meters Friday night, Derartu Tulu of Ethiopia won the gold medal in 31 minutes 6.02 seconds, an African record. Elana Meyer of South Africa was second, giving South Africa its first track and field medal since 1960, the last time the nation was eligible to compete in the Olympics.

It was one of two medals won by South African athletes on Friday, their first in the Games.

“It was amazing to be on the track when it’s for the whole of South Africa,” said Meyer, who is white. “This is for the new South Africa.”

Meyer and Tulu ran nearly side by side for the last 4,000 meters and several times Meyer moved aside so that Tulu could pass.

“She was running so close to me, I thought maybe the pace was too slow,” Meyer said. “I moved to make a place for her.”

Tulu was content to remain on Meyer’s shoulder until launching her kick shortly before the last lap.

After the race, the two Africans hugged and ran to gather up their nations’ flags for their victory lap. Tulu held the Ethiopian flag aloft and Meyer ran with the flag of the newly formed National Olympic Committee of South Africa.

“It was a very special moment,” Meyer said. “We did it for Africa. There is so much talent, but they need to see winners. We will be there for Africans. We did this for Africa.”