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Nigerian quartet of Blessing Okagbare, Regina George, Dominique Duncan and Christy Udoh on Saturday night set a new national record of 1:30.52 seconds to emerge as the 4×200 metres World Relays champions. The team went into the race as underdogs with the Allyson Felix-led USA and Veronica Campbell-Brown-led Jamaican teams being tipped to take the podium at the end of the day. However, the Okagbare-led quartet defied all odds to beat the favourites and give Nigeria a historic victory. Jamaica had to settle for the second position clocking 1:31.73 seconds, with Germany finishing in 3rd in 1:33.61 seconds. Team USA failed to finish the race, as Jeneba Tarmoh and Alysson Felix collided on their final changeover. Bahamas, who were Nigeria’s closest rival on the night, were disqualified thus allowing Sherone Simpson of Jamaica to help her team to second place. Venezuelan-born Regina George had to forfeit the women’s 4×400 metres just minutes earlier to stay fresh for the 4×200 metres. The 4×400 metres women team, which won a bronze medal at the meeting last year, could only finish 4th in Heat 1 in a time of 3:32.16 seconds. The quartet comprising of Rita Ossai, Patience Okon George, Ibukun Mayungbe and Ngozi Onwumere couldn’t repeat their previous achievement and missed out on the finals and an automatic place in the 4x400m at the Rio Olympics next year. Also, the Nigeria’s 4x400m men: Orukpe Erayokan, Robert Simmons, Amaechi Morton and Miles Ukoama missed out on earning a place at the Rio Olympics next year after they finished 7th in Heat 2 in 3:06.92 seconds. World Championships’ 200m bronze medalist, Blessing Okagbare is hoping to inspire the women’s 4×100 metres team to another impressive finish in order to book an automatic ticket to 2016 Olympics.
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This article was first published on 7th May 2015

arinzeude

Arinze Ude is a PhD Student at the University of the West of England Bristol, UK, where he's exploring on the mechanisms of donor cell leukaemia. He shares his deep thoughts on his blog and the Naked Convos. He is keen to promote personal development of the Nigerian youth via thought-provoking articles.

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