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Reigning Nigerian
champion in both the 100m and 200m, Obinna Metu, failed to make it to
the podium at the IAAF Grand Prix held in Dakar over the weekend as he
finished 4th in the 100m and 5th in the 200m finals at the athletics
event.

In the 100m event, Metu finished with a time of 10.41sec, while he returned a time of 21.57sec in the 200m.

Flash in the pan

Metu took the
Nigerian tracks by storm as he emerged the fastest man en-route
qualification for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, defeating the African
record holder, Olusoji Fasuba. He however did not make it beyond the
second round of the 100m event at the Olympics.

Another Nigerian
athlete on parade; Saul Weigpowa finished fifth in the 400m event in a
time of 47.88secs in a race won by Africa’s record holder, Gary Kigaya.

The likes of Obinna
Metu, Adetoye Durotoye, Damola Osayomi and other sprinters have proved
to be flashes in the pan; they will win at home and on the continent
with fanfare, but at the Olympics and World Championships, they always
turn flat-footed.

Another chance

With Nigerian
athletes billed to compete again at the Africa Championships in Kenya
and the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India later this year, they
would have to step up their pace if they hope to make any impact at the
events.

Already, the
Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) says its newly organised Golden
League Meet is meant to put the athletes in shape for the upcoming
events.

At the last leg of
the League held in Ibadan, the AFN president; Solomon Ogba explained
that the league was structured such that the athletes would be hitting
their peak form towards the National trials (Mobil track and field
Championships) been proposed for Calabar by June.

“It’s been a good start so far, I believe most of them should be hitting peak form by the last leg in Warri,” he said.

The winner of at least five legs out of the proposed six is expected to have a share of a N1 million naira jackpot up for grabs.

Currently, Ogho-Oghene Egwero leads the pack among those jostling for the jackpot.

Metu failed to
comment on his performance at Dakar, and brushed aside questions about
his non-participation in the AFN Golden League. He expressed scepticism
about the federation’s ability to pay since they were still owing him
his ticket refund to the last Mobil Track and field championship in
Abuja.