Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare has qualified for the women’s 100m semifinals at the Rio 2016 Olympics, clocking 11.16s to finish 2nd in Heat 3 to take one of the two automatic qualification spots.
Running from Lane 5, Okagbare didn’t stress herself so much in the race knowing that a first two finish guarantees her a place in the next round as she is trying not to run her best races in the early stages yet.
2015 world Bronze medallist, Tori Bowie won the race in a time of 11.13s, with Angela Tenorio finishing 3rd in 11.35s.
This will be Okagbare’s successive 100m semifinal qualification at the Olympics, and the Commonwealth Champion will be hoping for a better outing than at the London 2012 Games
Meanwhile in the other races involving Team Nigeria athletes, Gloria Asumnu finished 5th in Heat 2 with a time of 11.55s, same as Jennifer Madu who competed in Heat 5, making her first international bow and finishing with a time of 11.61s.
Making his first appearance at the Olympics, Orukpe Eraiyokan ran a Season’s Best (SB) of 47.42s to finish 7th in Heat 7. It is the fastest time Eraiyokan is running since he ran a lifetime best of 44.95s at the African Games in Congo last year.
After four events in the Heptathlon, Uhunoma Osazuwa is currently in 24th position, after amassing a points tally of 3609. The African Championship & Nigerian Record holder will hope to do well in the remaining events: Long Jump, Javelin and 800m to improve on her standings.
