Sports
National Athletics Trials: Okagbare races to 8th 100m title…As Adegoke emerges Nigeria’s fastest man
It was a great spectacle for the fans that thronged the Yaba College of Technology Sports Complex in Lagos on Thursday, June 17, the opening day of the 2021 National Olympic Games trial as Nigeria’s undisputed queen of thetrack, Blessing Okagbare and rave of the moment Enoch Adegoke gave them something that will linger in their memories for a long, long time.
The 32 year old Olympics, World and Commonwealth Games medalist stormed to a 10.63 seconds finish to win the women’s 100m title.
It was her eighth National 100m title to pull clear of Endurance Ojokolo as the second most decorated sprinter in the blue ribband race after Mary Onyali who won 11 titles. Okagbare showed a glimpse of what to expect in the semi final heat when she scorched to a 10.99 seconds finish
Okagbare’s 10.63 seconds finish is the fastest time ever run in the national championship and the 2014 Commonwealth Games double sprint gold medal winner said she is in great form ahead of the delayed 2020 Olympic Games.
“Since the start of this season, i see myself as very ready,” she said.
“I feel healthy, stronger and like the real Blessing Okagbare again. I am really happy that this time came down today, it will boost my confidence, my faith and trust in God. I just hope this same thing happen at the Olympics.
“I have been working on everything and I hope it counts at the big stage, that’s the Olympics.
I was very disappointed at my last meet when I ran 11.2, I was like this is not me, so when they mentioned the trials, I said I am going to be there, not because I just want to run, but because I really want to compete and run well.”But above all, I am healthier and when you have good health, the confidence will be there, and I am hoping for the best in Tokyo.
“I have to go to the Olympics, do better than I did or better still replicate it, you might not need to run like this to win the Olympics, at the Games you just want to get to the finishing line.”
Another US-based athlete, Rosemary Chukwuma finished second in 11.07 while National Sports Festival winner, Grace Nwokocha finished third in 11.11 seconds.
In the absence of US-based Divine Oduduru and Raymond Ekevwo, the fans were looking up to Edo 2020 Festival duo of Alaba Akintola and Enoch Adegoke winning the trials.
Akintola however cupped an injury in the semis leaving Adegoke who raced home in a new 10.00 seconds personal best and in the process confirm his place in Team Nigeria’s flight to the Olympics in Tokyo.
Adegoke thought he had made the 10.05 seconds entry standard in the semifinal but he was just one hundreth of a second off the time as he was timed 10.06 seconds.
Other opening day results saw Fatoyinbo Gbenga and Fadekemi Olude winning the 20km Race Work for both men and women respectively.
Sports
Lagos Set for Star-Studded Legends Game as Diouf, Adebayor, Appiah Lead African Icons
Africa is set for a football spectacle as some of Africa’s biggest football legends battle celebrated Super Eagles icons for the Legends Football Game on Sunday, November 8, at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos.
Headlining the African Legends squad are former African Footballer of the Year Emmanuel Adebayor, Senegal’s El-Hadji Diouf, Ivorian legend Didier Zokora and Ghana ex captain Stephen Appiah, whose illustrious careers left an enduring mark on the global game.
The star-studded African contingent is expected to feature alongside other celebrated names, including Ghana’s John Paintsil and Anthony Baffoe, Senegal’s Khalilou Fadiga, Burkina Faso’s Aristide Bancé, Cameroon’s Rigobert Song and Alexandre Song, Zimbabwe’s Peter Ndlovu and Benjani Mwaruwari, as well as South Africa’s Brian Baloyi.
They will take on Super Eagles legends from Nigeria’s iconic 1994 and 1996 squads in a special encounter celebrating three decades since Nigeria became the kings of African football.
The game is presented by Toptier Sports Management in partnership with Afreximbank and CANEX, bringing together football icons whose achievements have inspired generations of fans across the continent.
Chichi Nwoko, Founder and CEO of Toptier Sports Management, said the event would provide an opportunity to honour the legends who helped shape African football.
“These are names that every football fan in Africa knows. We are proud to bring them to Lagos to honour the heroes of 1994 and 1996,” she said.
The Legends Football Game is expected to draw fans eager to relive the magic of African football’s golden era, with gates opening at 1:30pm.
For fans unable to make it to the stadium, the match will be broadcast live from 5pm to 7pm on NTA, AIT and Silverbird.
With a galaxy of African football stars set to descend on Lagos, the city is poised for a memorable celebration of football, nostalgia and the enduring legacy of the continent’s greatest players.
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