Post Image
Connect Nigeria   Fresh from her awesome outing in the Prefontaine Classics in the USA, sprinter Blessing Okagbare, along with quarter-miler, Regina George and triple jumper Tosin Oke, has been confirmed for the ninth meeting of the 2014 season of the IAAF Diamond League on 11-12 July in Glasgow, Scotland. While Okagbare will compete in the women’s 200m where she leads in the race for the IAAF Diamond League Prize and George, who lost her national crown to Folashade Abugan last month in Calabar will compete in the 400m, Oke has been confirmed for the triple jump. Okagbare who ran a new 22.23 seconds personal best in the event at the end of May at the Prefontaine Classics in the USA leads the race with 10 points, three more than former multiple world champions, Allyson Felix of the USA who lost to the Nigerian last week in Paris and another American, Bowie Tori. Tori is the fastest woman in the event so far this year following the 22.18 seconds she ran to relegate Okagbare to the second position in Eugene, Oregon in May. George is one of only three women in this weekend’s race yet to run a sub-51 seconds and the Nigerian will be aiming to run within 51 seconds rather than trying to cause an upset in a field loaded with many former and current world and Olympic champions. The former USA junior international is up against two women who have broken 50 seconds this year; former world and Olympic Champion Sanya Richards-Ross (49.66) and reigning World Indoor Champion, Francesca McCorory (49.48). Also confirmed for the event are Botswana’s Amantle Montsho, the 2011 IAAF World Champion and 2007 and 2013 World Champion, Britain’s Christine Ohuruogu. Oke will, like George, hope to hit the 17m mark for the first time this year instead of aiming for a top two finish. The Nigerian holds a 16.60m personal season’s best, the lowest mark by any of the competitors this weekend. Oke is up against three Americans who have hit the 17m and above this season with Will Claye whose season’s best of 17.75m is the second longest mark so far achieved this season.

You might also like:
This article was first published on 10th July 2014

obimartins

Martins Okafor is a Sports Writer for Connect Nigeria. He has been a sport buff for years, following stories and development in leagues and international competitions. His interest led him to writing stories – reporting on sporting events. He has superior interest in soccer, but knows much about other sports. He plans to have a blog and to advance in sport journalism. You can email him at: obimartins85 [at] gmail.com


Comments (0)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *