Sprinter leads Team Nigeria to gold in IAAF/ BTC World Relays

Nigerian athlete Blessing Okagbare led team Nigeria to gold in the women’s 4x200m at the IAAF/BTC World Relays, Bahamas 2015.

Team Nigeria were the surprise victors, winning in 1:30.52 to take two seconds off the national record they set earlier this year.

World bronze medallist Blessing Okagbare led the team off before the baton was passed to Regina George, Dominique Duncan and Christy Udoh.

Jamaica finished a distant second in 1:31.73, one-and-a-half seconds slower than their time from last year, but one place higher on the podium.

Germany were third in 1:33.61 while China set an Asian record of 1:34.89 in fourth.

Blessing Okagbare who is a World 200m Bronze medallist, kicked off the race for Team Nigeria in Lane 4 and established a healthy lead before handing the baton to George, who  maintained the elad before handing the Duncan.

Duncan held the lead before handing over the baton to Udoh who completed Nigeria's race to gold.

The Team Nigeria win was a shock as USA were pre-event favourites and were tipped to successfully defend their title from last year.

They were on course to do that after building a comfortable lead on the first three legs by Shalonda Solomon, Kimberlyn Duncan and Jeneba Tarmoh.

Disaster however struck on the final changeover between Tarmoh and Allyson Felix as the baton fell to the ground, allowing Nigeria to overtake to win gold.