Guardian Mixed fortunes for Nigerian athletes, Ugeh injured THURSDAY, 11 JULY 2013 00:00 FROM GOWON AKPODONOR, DONETSK, UKRAINE SPORT - HOME Oduduru, Adewale, two others crash out SENSATIONAL Oluwatobiloba Esther Asamu was the cynosure of all eyes at the Olympics Stadium, Donetsk, venue of the on-going IAAF World Youth Championship Thursday, as she brushed aside tough opponents in the 800m race to hit the semi-final. But it was a bad day for erstwhile medal hopeful, Divine Oduduru and Adewumi Deborah Adewale, who failed to cross the semifinal hurdles. Asamu, who beat an Ethiopian athlete to finish third behind two Kenyans at the AYAC Games in Warri, Delta State in March, was applauded for her performance and trick in yesterday’s event. Running in heat 4, the Nigerian had some tough opponents from Kenya, Australia, Germany and Canada, among other countries to contend with. Midway into the first round of the race, Asamu was caged by her opponents, a usual trick in the 800m race. But she was able to free herself just before the real battle began. She had a season’s best of 2:06.59 seconds before the event as against the 2:o3.37 seconds by Australia’s George Wassall and 2:05.96 seconds of Canada’s Kailee Sawyer. With three curves to the finish line, Kenya’s Emma Stahr was on her heel, but Asamu pulled away like a jet, giving the Australian a hot pursuit. It was close to the finish line, but try as she could, she could not catch up with the Australian, who breasted the tape before her. She finished second in a time of 2:09.56 seconds, a performance the vice president of the AFN, Tunde Abdulkareem described as ‘wonderful.’ Before the stunning performance from Asamu, two Nigerians had did new personal bests in the boys’ 110m hurdles. Bashiru Abdullahi actually began the day’s business for Team Nigeria with a personal best of 14.08 seconds in heat 3 of the boys’ 110m hurdles to qualify to the next round. Before the race, many were skeptical about Abdullahi’s chances of qualifying, considering the records of his fellow competitors. While Abdullahi season best was 14.12 seconds, Euan Dickson-Earle of Great Britain had a season best of 13.70 seconds. Another athlete, Ville Aarnivala of Finland had a season best of 13.92 seconds. But the Nigerian was able to scale through, beating his challengers from Great Britain, Finland and Italy in the process. In heat 4 of the boys 110m hurdles, another Team Nigeria’s athlete, Ifeanyi Atuma, ran a personal best of 13.83 seconds to berth in the next round, pushing aside his challengers from Trinidad and Tobago, China and Algeria. Jamaica’s Jaheel Hyde won the race in 13.47 seconds. The semi-final and final of the boys’ 110m hurdles will take place later today. Meanwhile, the chances of Kasie Ugeh winning a medal in the competition may have suffered a setback, as she got injured during the triple jump event. She was listed for triple jump by Team Nigeria, but her good record on field events during the qualifiers, made the IAAF to capture her for the long jump event here in Donetsk. Ugeh was taken to the IAAF Medical Center late on Wednesday, where a scan was carried out on the injured leg. It was a bad day for Team Nigeria in the evening session yesterday, as the athletes crashed out one after another. First to kiss goodbye were the duo of Omeiza John Akerele and Samson Oghenewegba Nathaniel in the boys 400m. They failed to make it to the final, just as the country’s only hope in the boys and girls 100m, Divine Ouduru and Adewumi Deborah Adewale failed to cross the semi final hurdles. They finished sixth in their respective races. The case of Oduduru was sympathetic. The athlete from Vietnam, Le Trong Himh fault started and the race was stopped. But while other athletes heard the gun and stopped, Oduduru continued, even when everyone was signalling him to stop. He crossed the finish line all alone and in the process, burned his energy. When the race eventually started, he could only manage to float along up till 30m. He finished sixth. Perhaps, the country’s medals’ hope is now in the girls 400m, where Edidiong Ofonime Odiong made it to the final last night by running a personal best of 54.15 seconds to finish second in her semifinal race. Abimbola Junaid, who ran in heat two of the 400m, finished last in 56.33 seconds.
Posted on: Fri, 12 Jul 2013 07:46:05 +0000
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