Okagbare targets World Athletics Championships in Daegu
Nigeria's and African women 100m champion, Blessing Okagbare has stated that her target at the 65th All Nigeria/Cross River State Athletics Championships is to make it to the IAAF World Championship in Daegu, Korea in August.
The Delta State born athlete is in the Cross River state capital where the national trials started today to select athletes that will represent the country in the IAAF World Athletics Championships and the 2011 All-Africa Games in August and September respectively.
Okagbare, who has not been finding it good in the IAAF Diamond League has promised to put in a good performance that will give her an under 10 seconds mark that will give her a place in the team to both competitions.
"Right now my focus is the IAAF World Championship and the All Africa Games in Korea and Mozambique respectively," said Okagbare.
"I know I have to put in a good race to enable me make the team, so that is what I will be doing from today here in Calabar.
"On my Diamond League outings, I always put in my best to come out among the best but like we all know, God knows it all."
Okagbare will be contesting for a place in the team by running in the 100m, 4x100m and long jump but stated that Nigerians should expect the best from her from today here in Calabar.
"I am doing the 100m, 4x100m and the long jump and Nigerians should expect the best from me as I will be doing all my events with the seriousness that always makes me win," she said.
Okagbare will be running against former Nigeria 100m champion, Damola Osayomi and others. Okagbare had a season's best of 11.08 seconds set earlier this month at the IAAF Diamond league event in Eugene, Oregon.
Explosive women's 100m
Meanwhile, national athletics coach, Tony Osheku has said the women's 100m race at this year's edition will be filled with anticipation following the 10.99 seconds ran by former Nigeria championship, Damola Osayomi.
Osheku said with her time of 10.99 seconds, Damola has thrown a big challenge to current champion, Blessing Okagbare in the 100m women showdown.
"Damola has thrown the challenge at Blessing who is the current champion since 2009."
It would be recalled that Okagbare won the title from Damola Osayomi in 2009, thereby stopping Damola from making it a hat-trick of 100m titles at the 2009 Mobil championships.
According to Osheku, Damola now have a chance to also stop Blessing from winning her third back-to-back titles in the event.
"It is going to be a very interesting race because Damola will want to take her pound of flesh by stopping Okagbare from winning a hat trick in the 100m women race.
"We know what Okagbare can do, she will also be aiming to break 11 seconds in the 100m which she came close to doing last year when she ran 11.00 seconds at the Crystal Palace meeting in England last August.
"This is one race Nigerians are waiting for and I cannot wait for the battle to begin, he said.
Osayomi's run of 10.99 seconds ensured she jumped above Blessing Okagbare in the IAAF top list for the on-going season as well as in the Nigerian all-time performance list.
