Over the years, the Shanghai Stadium has really favoured Nigerian sprinting ace, Blessing Okagbare-Ighoteguonor.
The Shanghai Diamond League, which is usually the second leg in the Diamond League series, will have Okagbare-Ighoteguonor going up against Jamaican Elaine Thompson, who is the reigning Olympic Champion in the women’s 100m.
USA’s Ashley Henderson who is the Athletics World Cup Champion in the 100m, will also compete after running the 2nd leg for the victorious US 4x100m women at the IAAF World Relays, along with Jenna Prandini who has a Season’s Best (SB) of 11.10s.
The Nigerian kicked off her 2019 season with a 3rd place finish at the Doha Diamond League in the women’s 200m, and will now look forward to a better outing in the Chinese Capital.
Her first imprint on the trails of the Shanghai Diamond League goes as far back as 2011 when she finished 3rd in the 100m in 11.23s behind Veronica Campbell-Brown and Carmelita Jeter.
In 2012, she competed in the Long Jump, finishing 2nd with 6.64m while in the 200m, she again finished 3rd behind Campbell-Brown and Carmelita Jeter.
For five consecutive years, she was consistent at the meet as she finished 2nd behind Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce in the 100m in 2013, then punched her first win in 2014 in the Long Jump where she beat Ivana Spanovic with 6.86m, and then took the win in the 200m as well in 22.36s.
In 2015, Okagbare-Ighoteguonor topped the 100m in an impresive time of 10.98s, beating the likes of Tori Bowie, Michelle Lee-Ahye and Fraser-Pryce in the process.
This race is very much wide open, I wish her own all the very best
This race is very much wide open, I wish her own all the very best in her quest to get back to excellent form.