Commonwealth double GOLD medallist, Blessing Okagbare-Ighoteguonor will lead 22 others to the forthcoming IAAF World Championships slated to hold from August 22 to 30 in Beijing. The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) on Monday released the long awaited team list, following the conclusion of the National Trials held between July 30 and 31 at the Warri Township Stadium in Delta State.
Okagbare-Ighoteguonor won two medals for Nigeria at the 2013 edition of the championships in Moscow, ending the country’s medal draught at the competition. She claimed Silver in the Long Jump behind USA’s Brittney Reese, and Bronze in the 200m, following Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and fellow African, Murielle Ahoure.
The team comprises of 18 female and 5 male athletes including newly-crowned 200m men’s champion, Odele Tega, Tosin Oke in the men’s Triple Jump, and Uhunoma Osazuwa (Hepthatlon). The trio met the IAAF qualifying mark at the venue of trials: Tega ran a Personal Best (PB) of 20.47s; Oke leaped to a Season’s Best (SB) of 16.98m while Osazuwa set a PB/National Record (NR) of 6106 points in her event.
Unfortunately, the country will not be fielding any athletes in some of its hallmark events like the men’s 4x100m and 4x400m relays and 400m, due to the inability of the athletes to meet the qualifying mark for the individual 100m/400m events.
The squad will be joined by the following officials: Gabriel Okon, Maurice Greene, Solomon Aliyu, Yussuf Alli, Prof Ken Anugweje, Kayode Thomas (Media Officer), Falilat Ogunkoya, Olumide Bamiduro (Secretary General), Navy Commodore Omatseye Nesiama (Technical Director) and president of the federation, Solomon Ogba.
Here’s the complete team list below:
Women’s 100/200/4x100m
Blessing Okagbare
Gloria Asumnu
Stephanie Kalu
Deborah Odeyemi
Cecilia Francis
Ngozi Onwumere
400/4x400m
Patience Okon
Regina George
Oluwatosin Adeloye
Etim Margaret
Funke Oladoye
Rita Ossai
High Jump
Doreen Amata
100m Hurdles
Lindsay Weyimi Lindley
400m Hurdles
Amaka Ogoegbunam
Long Jump
Ese Brume
Discus
Chinwe Okoro
Heptathlon
Uhunoma Naomi Osazuwa
Male Athletes
100m
Ogho-Oghene Egwero
200m
Odele Tega Peter
110m Hurdles
Tyron Akins
400m Hurdles
Miles Ukaoma
Triple Jump
Tosin Oke
Why did Dominique Duncan, Mark Jelks, Toyin Augustus and Ajoke Odumosu not participate in the AFN trials? Are they retired
Both Dominique Duncan and Ajoke Odumosu competed in Warri. Ajoke just made a return after having a baby. Duncan finished 6th in the 200m. Mark Jelks didn’t come around while Toyin Augustus stopped competing for Nigeria about four/five years ago.
please what of Queen Obisesan… Nigerian Hammer thrower… please can you give me an update… thank you
Queen Obisesan did not compete at the National Trials.
These sets of coaches are the same coaches over the years and I know Yusuf Alli is not a recognize jump coach.
He should allow Olu Sule to be with the jumpers
Great athletes.