The
1st Warri Relays fashioned after others like the American Penns and
Texas Relays will be the focus of track and field fans in the country on
Thursday (today) as invited foreigners and top Nigerian stars battle
for honours.
Today’s fiesta also
incorporates the Confederation of African Athletics Grand Prix which
makes it one at which Olympic qualifications can still be achieved.
At close of entries on
Monday, 61 foreign athletes from over 20 countries from around the world
had confirmed their participation.
Some of the countries where
these athletes are from include; USA, Jamaica, Bahamas, St. Kitts &
Nevis, St. Vincent, Egypt, Cameroon, Botswana, Morocco, Algeria,
Senegal, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Kenya, Ethiopia, Liberia and Uganda.
The setting presents a
beautiful atmosphere for Nigerians to see their top athletes compete for
honours before heading down to Calabar for the final Olympic selection
trials. Although the sprint may not be as competitive with the absence
of world rated stars like Blessing Okagbare, Gloria Asumnu and Oludamola
Osayomi, other events are going to be full of shocks and upsets.
It will be interesting to
see how Olympic bound stars, fresh from the Atlanta camp in the United
States of America will compete with those who have been running the
local circuit here.
The quarter mile presents one of such events.
At the last leg of the
AFN/NDDC Golden League in the same Warri penultimate Wednesday, Police
athlete, Olusegun Ogunkole posted a 46.17 to win the men’s 400m while
Tobi Ogunmola who won the invitational category meant for Team Nigeria
dipped in at 46.21. Saul Weigopwa (46.22) and Godday James (46.96)
followed in that order to leave the category an open one.
PUNCH
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