News14 Feb 2006


Nigerians fly to 100m (10.13) and 400m (44.99) yearly leads

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Nigeria's Olusoji Fasuba in Helsinki (© Getty Images)

The fastest times so far this year for the men’s 100m and 400m were established during the 17th Nigeria/Mobil/NNPC Track and Field Championships in Abuja, Nigeria, which served as the national trials for Commonwealth Games (19-25 March, Melbourne, Australia).

An Innocent objective

In dry and hot weather, James Godday recorded on Saturday (11) the first sub-45sec lap of the season. The 400m specialist, based in the Czech Republic, ran his first competition since the World Championships in Helsinki, last August, where he set his former personal best (45.30). The impressive 44.99, he clocked last weekend was produced virtually alone, making him a strong medal candidate for Melbourne, where he aims to break the African record (44.17) set by Innocent Egbunike in 1987. Godday who was only 3 years old when that record was set, will not compete again until Melbourne.

Moscow and Melbourne for Fasuba

The men’s 100m was dominated by Olusoji Fasuba, 21, who just missed the World Championships final last year. After a bad start to his indoor competition season in Stuttgart (60m - 4th in 6.64), the 1.76m / 75kg sprinter returned to Nigeria and outdoors showed his real form. “Olu” posted a fine series of times, 10.14 on Thursday (9) during the quarter-finals, followed two days later by 10.26 (semi-final disturbed by several false starts) and 10.13 in the Final. In the process he won the national title from Uchenna Emedolu and Chinedu Oriala. Fasuba plans to come back to Europe before competing in both World Indoors (Moscow, 10-12 March) and Commonwealth Games.

There were also two national records in Abuja, both set by women. In the Hammer Thrower Funke Adeoye produced 59.87m, and in the Triple Jump Dominike Nkiruka leapt to 13.86m.

P-J Vazel for the IAAF

The national contigent for the Commonwealth Games includes 32 athletes:

Men -
100m : Olusoji Fasuba, Uchenna Emedolu, Deji Aliu, (4x100m: Peter Emelezie, Uzodima Alozie), note : Chinedu Oriala suspended due to “innapropriate behaviour”.
400m : James Godday, Bolaji Lawal, Saul Weigopwa, (4x400m Musa Audu, Enefiok Udo-Obong).
110mH : Selim Nurudeen.
Hammer Throw : John Osazuwa.
Decathlon : Lee Okoroafor.

Women -
100m : Gloria Kemasuode, Mercy Nku, Endurance Ojokolo (4x100m Jane Dike, Susan Akene).
400m Christy Ekpukpon, Joy Eze, Kudirat Akhigbe (4x400m Mabel Madojemu, Folashade Abugan).
800m : Grace Ebor.
100mH : Joy Digha.
Long Jump : Ibifuro Tobin-West, Esther Aghatise.
Triple Jump : Dominike Nkiruka, Iworima Otonye, Chinoye Ohadugha.
Shot Put : Vivian Chuwuemeka, note : she didn’t compete in Abuja due to studies in USA.
Hammer Throw : Funke Adeoye.

Three athletes were already selected for World Indoor Championships : Olusoji Fasuba, Deji Aliu and Endurance Ojokolo.

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