News17 Jul 2009


African record holder Kikaya looking for 44 in Abuja

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Gary Kikaya just holds off Xavier Carter in the rain in Glasgow (© Getty Images)

Abuja, NigeriaGary Kikaya of Democratic Republic of Congo who holds the continental record for 400m of 44.10sec (2006) is looking for his first sub-45 clocking of the year at tomorrow’s Abuja CAA Gold Grand Prix (Sat 18).

Elsewhere in the programme Nigeria born Glory Alozie now Spanish will make a comeback race in Nigeria, and while 2008 Olympic Games Long Jump bronze medallist Blessing Akakbare will attempt to reconfirm her recent 6.90m (windy) form in the Long Jump.

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.

“I am here in Abuja first to bring out a good season best. If I run 44, it will be very great, and secondly to push the Nigerian athletes who have not yet qualified for the World Championships in Berlin to make it” (before their national trials that will start on July 23) said Gary Kikaya on his arrival in Abuja today.

Kikaya vs Blackwood

The 2006 African champion Kikaya who ran 45.29 on 13 July is ready to run under 45. He has to stop the very experienced Jamaican, Michael Blackwood, 2002 Commonwealth champion and 2003 World bronze medallist, as well as the 29-year-old Arismendy Pequero from the Republic of Dominica, 45.55 this season.

For the Nigerians, it’s the first test before their trials. The best 2008 Nigerian, James Godday (PB 44.90) will have his first race of this year, and has compatriots Noah Akwu (46.51) and Abiola Onakoya (46.64) and Saul Weigopwa (45.02 in 2008) for company.

The African 100m record holder Olusoji Fasuba, fourth at the 2007 World Championships and the reigning World Indoor champion at 60m, with a best in 2009 of 10.20sec will have a difficult task in the dash against members of the Trinidad and Tobago 4x100m relay team who are in Abuja led by 21-year-old Bledman Keston, 10.10 season best, and America’s Thomas Hunter, 10.18.

Kelly-Ann Baptiste (11.06) if the standout name in the women’s 100m.

‘Gloria Alozie, welcome back home!’, that’s how many of sports newspapers in Nigeria titled their preview stories as it will be the first time that the Nigerian born 100m hurdler has run in Nigerian since she became Spanish in 2000.  The 32-year-old will have a difficult task against the young Seun Adingun, whose season best is 12.88, just 0.3 less than the 12.85 of Toyin Augustus, the African silver medallist.
 
Blessing Okagbare, the Texas El Paso University student will try to confirm her 6.90m windy season’s best by beating the Romanian Veronica Tigau (6.74 in 2008) in the Long Jump. They will face Nigerian Amadi Chinozor and Rhonda Watkins (6.51, in 2009).

In the men’s event Ignasious Gaisah who is now a father of two, will compete after a lot of injury problems, “I am here only to compete after a difficult 2008 season, I need to look forward and prepare myself very well for the 2010 season.” The Botswana long jumper Gable Garenamotse, is the favourite.

Romanian Anca Heltne in the women’s Shot Put who takes on local star Vivian Chukwuemeka, only 18.15m last year can’t fight.

Louisette-R Thobi for the IAAF

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