Moscow 2013: Okagbare Through to Long Jump Finals, Egwero Out of 100m.

The 14th International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Championships began in the capital city of Russia today (Saturday) as Team Nigeria participated in five qualifiers events of Day one, namely: the 800m (men), 400m (women), Long Jump (women) and the 100m (men).

Moscow 2013. IAAF World Championships.
Moscow 2013. IAAF World Championships.


Blessing Okagbare.

The multi-talented Nigerian needed just one leap to register the required 6.75m to book her place in tomorrow’s (Sunday) final as she jumped a wind (0.2m/s) assisted 6.83m.

While most of the rest of the field carried on for another two attempts, Okagbare, alongside Britain’s Proctor Shara, were off to relax their feet.

Regina George and Omolara Omotosho.

The duo have successfully scaled through the first preliminary rounds of the 400m ahead of tomorrow’s semi-final race.

Racing in Heat 5 George finished runner up behind champion, Botswana’s Amantle Montsho, in 51.01secs. The gap between her and Montsho was quite much as the winner finished in style, strolling through in 50.75secs.

Omotosho qualified for tomorrow’s semis by finishing fourth in Heat 1 in 51.98secs. Both athletes returns for the 400m semi-final on Sunday before Monday’s final showdown.

Leoman Momoh and Ogho-Oghene Egwero.

It was the end of the road for Momoh and Egwero competing in the 800m and the 100m respectively.

With the finish time of 1 minute 49.25secs, Momoh will not feature in the semi-finals of the 800m after coming seventh in Heat one on Saturday.

The fastest man in Nigeria Egwero raced a 10.26secs (-01m/s) to finish fifth in Heat six of the 100m on Saturday. American Mike Rodgers claimed the heat in 9.98secs, while Egwero now looks on to the relay for any realistic hope of winning a medal.