Nigerian athletes sparkle in Kenya
The Nigerian
contingent to the 17th edition of the Africa Athletics Championships
taking place in Nairobi, Kenya, got their campaign to a flying start as
most of the athletes qualified for the finals of their respective
events.
The trio of
Blessing Okagabre (11.16), Damiola Osayomi (11.26) and Agnes Osansuwa
(11.33) recorded the fastest time in the Women’s’ 100 semi final heat
thereby raising hopes for a possible sweep of the medals at stake in
tomorrow’s final.
Okagbare is a
favourite for the 100m, 200m, and long jump gold medals, while she is
also expected to anchor the 4×100 relay team, which is also in serious
contention for gold.
Success story
In men’s races the
duo of Obinna Metu and Ogho Oghene Egwero made into the 100 metres
final with Egwero finishing with the second fastest time in semi finals
in a time of 10.17 seconds behind Ghanaian Zakari Aziz who posted a
time of 10.16 seconds.
America-based Seun
Adigun also lived up to her pre-championships rating as she booked her
place in the finals of the 100m hurdles event.
In the Long jump
event, the country’s representatives, Samson Idiata and Stanley
Gbagbeke are still in contention with their places already secured in
the finals.
Former Junior
Champion, Folashade Abugan and Josephine Ehigie also remain on course
for medals as they both made it to the semi finals of the women’s 400m
event. The story is same for the men with the trio of Saul Weigpowa ,
Noah Akwu and James Godday; all in for the semi final races.
However, Nigeria’s
sole representative in the 800m event, Ishaku Mohammed, failed to make
it beyond the first round as he fizzled out of contention while
competing with East African opponents.
The championship,
which continues today, is also serving as selection trials for the
IAAF/VTB Bank Continental Cup (formerly IAAF World Cup in Athletics)
holding in Split, Croatia, from September 4 to 5 this year.
Nigeria has won
seven out of the 16 editions held so far with the 11th edition of the
championships held in Dakar, Senegal in 1998 marking the last time we
emerged as the overall winners of the competition with 10 gold, seven
silver and three bronze medals.
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