Moscow 2013: Okagbare Wins Silver in the Long Jump Finals.

Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare becomes the first African woman in the history of the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) World Championship to make it on the podium in all three events.

Okagbare's Fifth Attempt of 6.99m (+0.2m/s) in Moscow Saw Her Claim Silver Behind Reese.
Okagbare’s Fifth Attempt of 6.99m (+0.2m/s) in Moscow Saw Her Claim Silver Behind Reese.

The 24-year-old Delta-born athlete clinched her first silver medal of the ongoing Moscow 2013 with a wind (0.2m/s) assisted 6.99m jump that couldn’t deter all-conquering American, Brittney Reese, from winning her sixth title on the global stage while Serbia’s Ivana Spanovic (6.82m) claimed bronze.

Okagbare’s silver medal immediately placed Nigeria on the 5th spot in the medal table on the same day Stephanie Kalu lost out of the 100m Heats.

Reese, who Okagbare defeated at the Lousanne Diamond League meeting, stepped up to the occasion with a wind (+0.2m/s) assisted second attempt of 7.01m which was insurmountable for the other field athletes.

Despite drawing three fouls in the six series final, the London 2012 Olympic gold medalist, Reese, succeeded in becoming the first woman in history to win three World Championships gold medals in the Long Jump, after victories in Berlin and Daegu.

Kudos must be given to Okagbare, who- without drawing fouls in any of her six attempts- also qualified for the semi-finals of the 100m on the same day, as her busy first week of the World Championships roles on.

Okagbare finished first in 11.03secs (wind -0.6m/s) to qualify for the semi-final of the 100m, while Gloria Asumnu also qualified 3rd in 11.27secs (wind-0.3m/s) on Heat 4.

Home-based Kalu failed to make it past the Heats with a finish time of 11.67secs (wind -0.6m/s) in the race that had Ivoirian Murielle Ahoure and Carmelita Jeter, first and second respectively.

The duo of Regina George and Omolara Omotosho failed to make it to tomorrow’s (Monday) final of the 400m.

George raced her Personal Best of 50.84secs to finish third behind Botswana’s Amantle Montsho (49.56secs) and Russia’s Kseniya Ryhova (50.48secs). Omotoso finished seventh in 52.38secs.