US-based Ndu Celebrates First Win for Nigeria, Egwero, Asumnu Pick 100m Titles
ONE of the most celebrated American athletes at the Warri 2013 Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Grand Prix, Nichole Denby, could only settle for a bronze medal at the end of the women’s 100m hurdles event Friday. She was beaten by new kid on the block, US-based Nigerian athlete, Ugonna Ndu, who won the gold in a time of 13.52 seconds. It was Ndu’s first major win for Nigeria.
Another Nigerian, Amaka Ogoegbunam, was also ahead of the American, picking the silver in a time of 13.65 seconds. Ogoegbunam returned to the track last year after serving a ban by the International Amateur Athletics Federation (IAAF), which she got during 2009 World Athletics Champpionship in Berlin, Germany.
The gold medalist, Ndu, was full of smiles as she celebrated her victory over the American at the end of the race. She hung everyone that came her way inside the VIP area of Warri City Stadium.
The one-day event, which had many incentives for the winners, was attended by athletes from 14 foreign countries, 113 local athletes and about 20 Nigerian athletes based abroad.
The defeated American women hurdler, Denby, was highly favoured to win the race going by her record this year. She has a season’s best (SB) of 13.08 seconds, but could only manage 13.69 seconds yesterday.
Old timer, Patience Okoro, who ruled Edo 2002 National Sports Festival, finished sixth in the race in a time of 14.43 seconds, while Nigerian junior athlete, Efe Favour was seventh in 14.62 seconds.
It was another disappointment for America in the men’s 110m hurdles, where Team Nigeria’s Nurudeen Selim beat America’s Andrew Brunson in the race.
While the Nigerian captured the gold in a time of 13.69 seconds, the American returned at 13.86 seconds, with Martins Ogieriakhi of Nigeria taking the bronze in a time of 14.01 seconds.
The men’s 100m race was won by Ogho-Oghene Egwero at a time of 10.18seconds, while US-based Gloria Asumnu captured the women’s 100m gold in a time of 11.35 seconds.
Chibuike Harry took the 100 metres men’s silver in 10.47 seconds, ahead of US’ Mathieu Pritchett, who got bronze in 10.50seconds.
In the 400m women’s final, US-based Nigerian, Regina George, was too hot for other challengers, as she won the gold, just as Ajoke Odumosu won the 400 metres hurdles in 55.10 seconds.
It was a sad tale, however, for Nigeria’s senior women 4X100 metres relay team, which could not finish the race having dropped their baton along the way.
US-based Gloria Asunmu, who was leading her leg of the race, could not successfully hand over the baton to another US-based star, Regina George, thus denying Nigeria the gold medal.
In the race, the Nigerian junior team won the event with a 14.25 seconds finish, which was not good enough to qualify them for the world championship.
The senior team had already qualified for the World Championship before the Warri meet.
Before the women 100 metres relay final, one of the revelations of Eko 2012 National Sports Festival, Amina Olowora, had captured the gold in the 5000m women race in a time of 17:48.25 seconds. Two other Nigerians, Iwangar Akaha (18:13.46 seconds) and Mnagnnenan Ishor (19:46.10seconds) got the silver and bronze medals respectively.