Blessing Okagbare’s routine win in the Commonwealth Games women’s 200m was overshadowed by the performances of three young English sprinters in a breathtaking final on 31st July.
England’s 20-year-old Jodie Williams finished a surprising second in a personal best time of 22.50 seconds. Jodie’s team mates, Bianca Williams and Anyika Onuora also competed in the final, occupying the next two places.
Jodie Williams has been described as “the sort of athlete every country has been waiting for” by UK athletics coach Charles Van Commenee and she has also been complimented by American 200m specialist Allyson Felix who said, “I think Jodie has great potential. She’s young but she can still accomplish many things.”
Okagbare (25), made Nigeria proud again as she won the race to add to her 100m gold. She won the 200m final in 22.25 seconds. She was also the African 100m and long jump champion in 2010.
Bianca Williams’ bronze medal was won in 22.58 seconds, also a personal best. She is quoted as saying, “This is just the start-we beat the Jamaicans, which is a massive thing.” Jamaica’s best 200m runner, Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce, like her male counterpart Usain Bolt, elected not to run in the individual sprints.
Liverpool-born Anyika Onuora came an agonising 4th in the race with a time of 22.64 seconds. She is the sister of former footballer Iffy Onuora.
The full result was: Blessing Okagbare from Nigeria (1st), Jodie Williams from England (2nd), Bianca Williams from England (3rd), Anyika Onuora from England (4th), Anneisha Mclaughlin from Jamaica (5th), Schillonie Calvert from Jamaica (6th), Kimberly Hyacinthe from Canada (7th) and Samantha Henry-Robinson from Jamaica (8th). England should be proud of Bianca Williams, Anyika Onuora and Jodie Williams as bright prospects and true assets to the England team.
