Nigerian sprint queen,
Blessing Okagbare-Ighoteguonor, has been listed to make a resurgence to the
IAAF Diamond League meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland on Thursday after her absence at the seventh leg of the single day event, the Meeting Du Paris last Saturday.
Change in dates
However, Okagbare may not participate in the Athletissima in Lausanne due to the clash with the new dates of the
Asaba 2018 African Championships trials in Abuja.
The Nigerian trials were originally scheduled to run from Saturday July 7 to Monday July 9 in Osoro Delta State, but due to undisclosed reasons the federation made adjustments to the dates and events of the trials.
The trials will now begin on
Thursday, July 5 till Saturda,y July 7 inside the main-bowl of the Abuja National stadium.
Track record
If the reigning Nigeria 100m and 200m record holder chooses to ditch the African trials in Abuja, she will be making her sixth visit to Lausanne, where she has competed more in long jumps (four times) than in sprint races, with one of her biggest wins on the 4th of July 2013, with her third longest leap (6.98m) of the year.
This year’s 100m race in Lausanne will be her second after the athletes failed to finish four years ago, and the Nigerian will have to put in all she’s got seeing the calibre of athletes she will be going up against at the event.
Five times Diamond League winner in both 100m and 200m discipline since July 2016 till date, Cote D’Ivoire’s Marie-Josée Ta Lou will be on the starting lineup against Okagbare.
Also in the starting line up is the Ivorian who dethroned Okagbare as the African 100m record holder (10.78 to 10.79 seconds), Ahoure Murielle. Dutch athlete, Dafne Schippers, reigning Olympics double sprints champion, Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson, USA’s Prandini Jenna and 2018 NCAA 100m title holder, Aleia Hobb will also be racing against Okagbare.
At the end of the seven 100m race events, the top eight athletes who have accrued the most points from the 100m events will be awarded starts at the final at the Weltklasse in Zurich on August 30.
The winner of the final race will become the
IAAF Diamond League Champion and also walk home with a Diamond Trophy, $50,000 prize money and a wild card for the IAAF World Championships in Doha in 2019.
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This article was first published on 3rd July 2018
achem
Achem Samuel is a writer and a musician, he is passionate about God and also an ardent fan of tech, sports and music.
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