100m: Egwero, Metu, Emelizie crash

Obinna Metu of Nigeria, in green has crashed out

Nigeria’s trio of Obinna Metu, Ogho Oghene-Egwero and Peter Emelizie yesterday crashed out in the first round of the men’s 100m at the ongoing London Olympics. In what represents a sorry state of men’s athletics in Nigeria, the trio were unable to meet the qualifying standard in their respective heats.

First to fail was Oghene-Egwero, who finished sixth in heat four, won by world record holder and defending Olympic champion, Usain Bolt.

The Nigerian returned a time of 10.38secs, while Bolt clocked 10.09. Next to follow Oghene out of the 100m was Metu, whose 10.35secs in the heat 5 was only good enough to guarantee him a fifth place finish while another Jamaican, Asafa Powell easily won the race in 10.04secs.

Completing the Nigerian disaster was Emelizie, who finished fifth in heat 6 with a time of 10.22secs but was unable to break into the next round of the event. Despite his ouster, Emelizie would feel good about the time that he returned, which represents a personal best for the 24 year-old emerging track star.

Jamaica’s Yohan Blake won the heat with a time of 10.00secs. US sprinter, Justin Gatlin recorded the fastest time in the heats held yesterday with a time of 9.97secs.

Okagbare fails, Nigeria’s dream crashes

Okagbare`s best was not enough

Shelly- Ann Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica last night defended her 100m Olympics title with an astonishing 10.75secs as Blessing Okagbare of Nigeria finished last with 11.01secs in a star-studded final at a packed Olympic Stadium in London.

With high hopes that she was going to get Nigeria’s first medal at the Games,, Okagbare, who ran a personal best of 10.92 in the semifinals held earlier on, failed when it mattered most against her impressive competitors.Cameliter Jeter of US finished second in a time of 10.78, representing a second best while another Veronica Campbell-Brown of Jamaica clocked 10.81 to claim the bronze.

At the mixed zone, Okagbare, who cast doubts over her 100m race, did not talk to the media but said that her legs were paining her as she walked past. She started showing signs of this in her semifinal race  which started on a slow pace but recovered to win. But in the final race, her poor start was well exploited by her rivals who left her reeling in the last place