Nigerian harvest of gold medals in the
sprints
Mark Ouma for the IAAF
19 September 1999 - Sprinters Francis Obikwelu (200m) , Fatima Yusuf (200) and Glory Alozie (100mhurdles) spearheaded Nigeria's rich harvest of gold medals on the final day of the track and field athletics competition at the All Africa Games (AAG)
Coming off the bend with a comfortable lead, Obikwelu speed home to a new championship record of 20.06 second. He broke the old record of 20.23 set by countryman Sunday Bada at the last games in Harare, Zimbabwe. Joseph Don Batang (Cameroon was runner up in 20.37, ahead of Nigeria’s Daniel Effiong who clocked 20.49.
"I Prayed to God to let me win this race. Yesterday (Friday) as l was warming up for the semi finals l felt a twinge in my left hamstring. I was worried l would get injured and fail to reach the finals. Even after massage today, l was not sure that l would make it, said Obikwelu.
The world championships bronze medallist ran 19.84 seconds in the semi-finals in Seville. He is the second fastest African ever behind Frank Fredricks 19.86 silver medal effort at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
"My plan was to break the Africa record today. Although l did not succeed, l have no regrets. l am grateful to God that l have it. I will try next year to break the Africa record in this event, " said Obikwelu.
Although she failed to defend her 400m title, Yusuf bounced back to win the 200m in a new championship record of 22.46. Fellow Nigerian Mary Onyali held the old record. Leanie Mani (Cameroon) collected her second silver medal after coming second in 22.91. Ghana’s Monica Twum was third in 22.98.
"This is a consolation after l missed training for most of the early season. I underwent surgery for my back last December and therefore started training late.
"This year has been good as l have set a career best of 22.28 in the semi-finals in Seville. Nonetheless nothing will take me away from the 400m. I love the event and l will be back next year," said Yusuf.
Alozie was ahead of her opponents in right from the first hurdle and maintained her lead to win the event in a championship record of 12.74. Defending champion Angele Atebe who was this time runner up in 12.99 held the old record of 12.98. Tacko Doiuf (Senegal) was third in 13.02.
"It has been a great season for me. If we did not have so many false starts l probably would have run a faster time, " said Alozie. She was immediately congratulated after the race by Atebe.
"It is good Glory won the race. If the same person wins all the time it takes away the beauty of the race. As long as a Nigerian won the race l am happy "said Atebe.
The South Africa’s Susan Vermeulen and Kenya’s David Kimutai won the women’s 10km and men’s 20 km walk. Vermeulen won the newly introduced vent in 49:33. Nagwe Saleh (Egypt) was second in 50:19, while Algeria’s Bahia Boussad was third in 51:31. Kimutai won the 1:29:12 with Moussa Aouanouk (Algeria) 1:29.36 second and Vincent Asumang (Ghana) third in 1:48.
The triple jump was the most exciting women’s field event of the athletics competition. Cameroon’s Francoise Mbanga Etone and World Junior champion Baya Rahouli were locked in a head to head contest. Between them they have improved the Africa record over the last year from 14.04 to 14.65 prior to the AAG. Coming into the competition the Cameroonian held the Africa record with a 14.65m effort to Rahouli’s 14.30.
Athletics fans were not disappointed as Rahouli lead in the first round by 14.42 to 14.39. In the second jump she extended her lead to 14.59, before Etone leaped 14.70 to improve her Africa record by five centimetres.
Etone could only manage a 14.41 in the fourth jump and posted no jumps in her last two attempts. Rahouli on the other hand posted a personal best of 14.34 on her fourth jump.
She improved her personal best to14.64 in her last jump, thereby trailing Etone’s mark by six centimetres. "I will be back next year and l will regain the Africa record and take it over 15 metres said a determined Rahouli.
