Blessing Okagbare Sets Fastest African 100m Record

Africa's track queen Blessing Okagbare has proved her dominance when it comes to the tracks and field in Nigeria. The 25 year-old Blessing took her note worthy campaign for a record 6th straight title on tracks after Mary Onyali on a bright start yesterday at the All Nigeria Athletics Championship taking place in Calabar.

Okagbare who is also a field jumper clocked 11.06 secs as she cruised to a record 6th consecutive win on a newly refurbished tartan track of the UJ Esuene Stadium. She

made the record timing of the sixth fastest time on the 2014 IAAF World List of fastest time and it is also the fastest time in Africa this season.

Gloria Asumnu, a strong contender with Blessing Okagbare came chasing behind Delta state born Blessing Okagbare who is also a Beijing 2008 Olympics long jump bronze

medalist, in 11.17 to set a 2014 season best record, Sule Justina came in third at 11.63 seconds while Deborah Odeyemi, Goodness Thomas and debutant Dominique Duncan

came 4th, 5th and 6th respectively.

Speaking to the press, Okagbare said: “I want to say thank you to God because it is a priviledge to triumph. I saw something in the paper saying I will be the second woman alive to have won the 100m race six times, I want to say that is a wrong impression, I am  the only woman to have won it six times.''

The 68th Championship sponsored by the Cross River State also serves as the qualifying round for the forthcoming Commonwealth games and the African Championships in

Morocco later in August. Hence she has qualified to represent Nigeria in Glasgow 2014

“The target now is to win the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, and bring honour to Nigeria.”

The African Sprint queen also enthused about winning the Women 200m and Long Jump come Saturday: Okagbare shares the record time of 11.06 secs with Ivorian athlete

Murielle Ahoure who will be competing at the Morocco African Championships in August.

UJ Esuene continues with the Athetic bliss today with the The championship continues today with the Men’s 100m, women’s 400m; men and women’s 110m hurdles finals