Nigeria’s fastest woman, Blessing Okagbare, on Thursday
leapt to a new 6.97m personal best in the long jump event to win the gold
medal as the 66th Cross River State/All Nigeria Open Athletics
Championships ended in Calabar.
The jump was not only 6cm better than her previous personal
best which fetched her the bronze medal at the 29th Olympic Games in
Beijing, China four years ago, it also fetched her the N2m jackpot prize set by
the Athletic Federation Nigeria.It was reserved for athletes who achieved the
best performance, based on the IAAF Scoring (Hungarian) table of athletics.
In the men’s version, Stanley Gbagbeke shrugged off injury
worries to leap to a new personal best of 8.20m to retain his title. The feat
pushed him up to number four in the Nigeria all-time list and just seven
centimeters short of Yusuf Ali’s 8.27m national record set in 1989 in Lagos.
In some of the other events also decided on the last day of
competition, former Commonwealth Games shot put queen, Vivian Chukwuemeka made
a triumphant return to the national stage by reclaiming her title with a new
personal season’s best of 18.18m. It was also her 14th gold medal in the event
at the championships.
In the men’s 200m, Obinna Metu ran 20.91 seconds to
successfully complete sprints double and announce his arrival as the undisputed
king of sprints in Nigeria. He had a day earlier reclaimed the 100m title with
a new 10.11 seconds lifetime best. US-based Noah Akwu (20.98) and Elvis Ukale
(21.28) settled for second and third positions respectively.
“Trust me; I am going to London to do Nigeria proud. Forget
the time here as you can see that this track is not the type anyone
should expect any new record,” stressed the sprinter who earlier this year was
in Jamaica to train with world record holder in the 100m and 200m,Usain
Bolt.
In the women’s version of the race, USA-based Lawretta Ozoh
dashed to the finish line in 22.73secs while Gloria Asumnu (22.89) and Christy
Udoh (22.91) placed second and third respectively.
The race was however not without drama. Asumnu who was
judged to have beaten the starter’s gun stayed put, arguing she did not commit
the offence. She was however allowed to run under protest.
All Africa Games double champion, Oludamola Osayomi was as
disappointing in the 200m as she was in the shorter sprint.
After getting off the block clumsily, she lost interest in
the race and just stayed on, jogging to the finish line in the last position.
In the men and women 400m hurdles, Amaechi Morton and Ajoke
Odumosu were crowned king and queen respectively. Morton, who arrived in
Calabar late on Wednesday night from the USA ran 50.3 to win the race.
Doreen Amata also retained her long jump title, soaring over
1.86m to claim the gold medal. USA based Uhunoma Naomi Osazuwa was second
in 1.80m while Young Esiekpe (1.67m) was third.
The African champion was however impressed with winning
despite not meeting her target of 1.95m. “ It is still ok. I know I will get
there before leaving for the London Olympics,” observed the mother of one who
finished overall 8th at the last World Championships in South Korea last year.
Amata promised to retain her continental title at the
African Championships scheduled for next week in Porto Novo, Benin Republic.
In the Half Marathon, Nigerian Army long distance runner,
Stephen Jurbe clocked 1hr.07;16.38secs to win the race leaving Tokbe
Givet of Borno (1hr.08:35.62secs) and Danjuma Gyang (1hr.09;07.16secs) to
settle for the silver and bronze respectively.
No comments:
Post a Comment