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Blessing Okagbare set a new Africa Championship record in the
100m after winning gold in a hotly contested final on Wednesday at the ongoing
17th edition of the Africa Athletics Championships taking place in Nairobi,
Kenya.

Okagbare ran a time of 11.03 seconds to erase the 11.05 mark set
by compatriot; Mary Onyali at the 1998 Dakar, Senegal edition.

“Whatever championships I have won this year, I have worked hard
for it. I have trained hard and am really grateful to God that everything is in
place for me,” an elated Okagbare told reporters after the race.

The Olympic Bronze medallist further revealed that she hopes to
even improve on her time in subsequent competitions with the Commonwealth her
major target.

“My goal this year is to break the African record at the
Commonwealth Games,” she said.

Perennes Pau Zang Milama of Gabon took the silver medal in 11.15
sec while former champion; Damola Osayomi of Nigeria came third.

Meanwhile, United States-based Seun Adigun also won another gold
medal for the country as she wrested back the 100m hurdles crown, which was
taken away from compatriot; Toyin Augustus at the last edition in Addis Ababa.
She won the race in a new personal best time of 13.14 seconds.

Gnima Faye of Senegal took the silver in 13.67 while Algeria’s
Amina Ferguen (13.87) won the bronze.

Metu fumbles

It was however not good news for the men as Nigerian men’s
champion Obinna Metu, finished seventh, way behind winner,

Ben Youssef Meite of the Ivory Coast, who timed 10.08sec.

Veteran Zakari Aziz of Ghana came second in 10.12 with Simon
Magakwe (10.14) in third spot.

Metu, who recently made history back home winning an
unprecedented three successive 100m title in the Mobil Track and field
Championships has consistently failed to hit form at the big stage as he has
consistently failed to make meaningful impact outside Nigeria.

The duo of Saul Weigpowa and Sade Abugan are the only remaining
quarter milers for Nigeria as they secured their places in the men’s and
Women’s 400m final events.

Joseph Ehigie, Godday James and Noah Akwu all failed to make the
cut and will only have the relay race to redeem their image.

Other winners

Kenya’s world champion Vivian Cheruiyot won the 5,000 metres
after a terrific last lap sprint with big Ethiopian rival Meseret Defar on the
second day of the African Championships on Thursday.

Her victory followed that of compatriot Wilson Kiprop in the
10,000 metres on Wednesday. Cheruiyot won in 16:18.72 with Defar second in
16:20.54.

Defar, a former world champion, took defeat honourably, telling
reporters: “I think Vivian is terrific and I must congratulate her on her
victory.” Cheruiyot’s immediate plans are the Continental Cup in Croatia in
September and the Commonwealth Games in October.

Kits arrive

Meanwhile Team Nigeria officials finally took delivery of their
kits from NIKE officials here in Nairobi yesterday with the Athletics
Federation heaping the blame on the sportswear suppliers.

The kits, it was gathered arrived Nairobi three days ago but the
Kenyan immigration demanded that duties be paid on them. This led to the delay
in the release of the wears and AFN secretary general, Maria Worphil explained.

She added that the federation should not be blamed for the
multi-coloured appearance of Nigeria so far in the championships.

“We gave the specifications and the numbers we needed and we expected them
to ship it here early. In fact it was not only Nigeria who had their kits
supplied two days after the championship began, the Kenya team also had theirs
delayed because NIKE shipped them together with that of Nigeria,” said Worphil,
a former national handball star.