Africa’s queen of The track, Blessing Okagbare, has claimed another 100meters gold at the ongoing African Championship in Marrakech, Morocco.
Okagbare, who was fresh from winning the Commonwealth Games sprint double just two weeks ago, showed no signs of tiredness.
And just like at the Commonwealth Games, Okagbare won the 100m in a championship record.
This time, not only did she face double world silver medallist, Murielle Ahoure, but she also had to contest with a stiff -1.4m/s headwind.
This time, not only did she face double world silver medallist, Murielle Ahoure, but she also had to contest with a stiff -1.4m/s headwind.
She dealt with both, though, and came through strong at the end to win in 11.00, taking 0.03 off the championship record she set when winning the title in 2010.
It was her fifth gold medal from the African Championships.
In 2010, she won the 100m, long jump and 4x100m.
It was her fifth gold medal from the African Championships.
In 2010, she won the 100m, long jump and 4x100m.
Then two years later, she picked up another gold medal in the long jump.
“When I saw Ahoure in front of me, I did not panic,” said Okagbare, who became the first athlete ever to win the Commonwealth and African 100m titles in the same year.
“I stayed patient, I pushed through and I won.”
Ahoure took the silver medal in 11.03s from compatriot, Marie Josee Ta Lou, who set a personal best of 11.20s.
While Nigeria took gold ahead of two Ivorian sprinters in the women’s 100m, the opposite happened in the men’s 100m.
Meanwhile, Ivory Coast’s Hua Wilfried Koffi set a national record of 10.05 (0.4m/s) to hold off Nigerian duo of Mark Jelks and Monzavous Edwards, who clocked 10.07 and 10.16 in men’s 100 meters respectively.
“When I saw Ahoure in front of me, I did not panic,” said Okagbare, who became the first athlete ever to win the Commonwealth and African 100m titles in the same year.
“I stayed patient, I pushed through and I won.”
Ahoure took the silver medal in 11.03s from compatriot, Marie Josee Ta Lou, who set a personal best of 11.20s.
While Nigeria took gold ahead of two Ivorian sprinters in the women’s 100m, the opposite happened in the men’s 100m.
Meanwhile, Ivory Coast’s Hua Wilfried Koffi set a national record of 10.05 (0.4m/s) to hold off Nigerian duo of Mark Jelks and Monzavous Edwards, who clocked 10.07 and 10.16 in men’s 100 meters respectively.