Lagos - Nigeria's President Olusegun Obasanjo has announced that a street in the city of Abuja will be named after top sprinter Uchenna Emedolu in recognition of his 100 metres victory, while representing Africa at the IAAF World Cup in Madrid last month.

Emedolu, running in lane six in the Madrid 100m, made a fast-finish which overhauled USA’s Jon Drummond (4th) who had blasted to an early lead in lane one. Emedolu, a former football player, who was a silver medallist at both the Commonwealth Games and the African Championships earlier in the summer, was a late replacement on the African team for Frank Fredericks (who only contested the 200m), and took 0.03 off his personal best when winning in 10.06.

Obasanjo, who received Emedolu at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa on Tuesday, described the 26-year-old 100m and 200m specialist as "a beacon of the Nigerian future".

Gwen Torrence named to American Track Hall of Fame 
  
Elsewhere, on Wednesday in Indianapolis, USA, Torrence, the 1995 World 100m and 1992 Olympic 200m gold medallist was one of four individuals elected to the National Track and Field  Hall of Fame.

Torrence also won 4x400m relay gold medals at the 1995 World championships and the Olympics of 1992 and 1996. During her career, Torrence won eight US outdoor titles.

The other three athletes honoured were Middle distance runner Steve Scott, Pole Vaulter Earl Bell and race walker Larry Young.

"Earl, Steve, Gwen and Larry all contributed greatly to raising  their events to a higher level in the US and around the world," said USA Track and Field Chief Executive Officer Craig Masback.

AFP and IAAF.