Gary Kikaya wins the 400m in 45.21sec at the 2009 Abuja CAA Gold Grand Prix (© Louisette-R. Thobi)
A dominant 400m run by African record holder Gary Kikaya (45.21) and USA’s Randall Flimmons 8.10m Long Jump were the best results at the Abuja CAA Gold Grand Prix on Saturday (18).
The Abuja CAA Gold Grand Prix one of a select group of Area meetings at which points can be acquired by athletes to qualify for the IAAF / VTB Bank World Athletics Final, to be held on 12-13 September in Thessaloniki, Greece.
Kikaya of the Democratic Republic of Congo was expecting to run under 45sec but in any case won easily. There was no real fight shown by his opponents after 300m, with the continental champion winning easily in 45.21sec.
“I am really happy with my race in Abuja; it’s my first time running in Nigeria, my coach‘s country (former African record holder Innocent Egbunike)… I wished my time had come down. After Abuja, I run in Barcelona next week after that, I will return to US to concentrate on the Berlin World Championships where I will be seeking to make the final.”
In the women’s race, the 2008 World Junior champion Folashade Abugan clocked 51.44 sec, her season’s best, to beat the 2001 World Champs fifth placer Kaltouma Nadjina from Chad, 51.54.
After a very long period of injuries, Ignasious Gaisah the 2006 World Indoor Long Jump champion, finished 6th with the poor performance of 7.48m, very far from the winner USA's Flimmons Randall who jumped 8.10m, followed by Nigerian runner-up Stanley Gbagbeke, 8.06, both PBs.
In the women’s event, Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare, 2008 Olympic bronze medallist, was defeated by Trinidad and Tobago’s Rhonda Watkins, 6.47m to 6.43m.
Ivory Coast’s Ben Youssef Meite, the junior brother of Ibrahim Meite (10.24 and 20.64). He ran a 10.21sec PB for victory in the 100m final, after leading his heat in 10.32. Trinidad and Tobago’s Bledman Keston, was second in 10.30, after running a 10.27 in the heats, while his compatriot Semoy Hackett won the women’s race in 11.33sec, beating Nigeria’s African champion Damola Osayomi, 11.40.
Nigeria’s 4x400m will be present in Berlin. The quartet, Noah Akwu, James Godday, Onakoya Abiola and Weigopwa had a close race with a squad from the Dominican Republic led by Arismendy Peguero - 3:02.33 to 3:02.45.
Vivian Chukwuemeka of Nigeria put 17.58m yesterday afternoon, an effort which was unable to stop the Romanian Anca Heltne who won the women’s Shot Put with 18.57m.
Former World champion Germany’s Charles Friedeck, had no opposition winning the Triple Jump with 16.77m.
In the 100m Hurdles Toyin Augustus (NGR), set her season’s best of 12.96sec for victory.
Louisette-R. Thobi for IAAF
