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 4x100 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.