AFN Lauds Blessing Okagbare’s Achievement.

Blessing Okagbare After Winning the 100m in 10.79secs (An African Record Time)
Blessing Okagbare After Winning the 100m in 10.79secs (An African Record Time)

The Technical Director of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) Navy Commodore Omatseye Nesiama has reacted to Blessing Okagbare’s feat at last weekend’s Sainsbury’s Anniversary Games.

Blessing Okagbare produced double African Records on her way to claiming a well deserved victory in the 100m in the Olympic Stadium, London, on Saturday.

A 10.86secs finish time in the preliminary heat was bettered with another 10.79secs in the final as the Delta-born athlete recovered from an average start to power to victory ahead of Barbara Pierre of United States, who came second in 10.85secs.

Okagbare's Superb Finish at the London 2012 Anniversary Games.
Okagbare’s Superb Finish at the London 2012 Anniversary Games.

Trinidad’s Kelly-Ann Baptiste came third in 10.93secs, while Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce failed to recover from a poor start to finish fourth in 10.94secs.

Okagbare has now eclipsed the 10.90secs African record held by former Nigerian hurdler, Gloria Alozie.

Nesiama at the weekend expressed his happiness over the new record and the prospect of a good outing for Team Nigeria at next month’s IAAF World Championships in Moscow, Russia.

“I am happy that she keeps proving her mettle. She is good and I know that with good psychology, she will be among the world’s best,” Nesiama said.

He also called on cooperate bodies to assists AFN and Okagbare, who he referred to as a “blessing” to the country’s track and field.

“I am appealing to Nigerians to rally round Okagbare. She is doing not only herself proud but the country as well,” Nesiama said. “She is indeed a blessing.

“We need help from corporate organizations. They should come to the aid of athletics because we have good programmes but without money, we cannot progress.”