Blessing Okagbare-Ighoteghonor announced her return to top form at the weekend with a blistering 22.04seconds run at the 2018 Wes Kittley Invitational in Texas, erasing the 200m women African record held by Mary Onyali-Omagbemi since August 1996 in the process.
The top Nigerian sprinter, who has started the season with a bang, ran the impressive time in her 200m race on Saturday.
She spent most of last season nursing an injury, and underwent surgery to aid her recovery with the performance has become the undisputed Nigerian fastest woman having the 10.79seconds women 100m national record under her belt.
The athlete will remain in Texas to have a go at the 100m and it remains to be seen if she can also crack the African record held by Ivorian sprinter Murielle Ahoure since 2016.
Athletics officials are already looking forward to a clash between Okagbare-Ighoteghonor and Ivorian duo of Ahoure and Marie Josee Ta Lou.
However, the time needs to be ratified and when done, Okagbare’s winning time will become the new African Record in the Women’s 200m event.
The 200m African Women’s record is hitherto held by another Nigerian, Mary Onyali, who ran a time of 22.07 in 1996 at a Meet held at Weltklasse Zürich.
Nigeria’s Fabian Edoki also leapt to a personal best 8.10m in the long jump. He is the best jumper ever by any Nigerian male jumper in recent years.
“We’re extremely glad Okagbare is back to her best form. Certainly we will see what happens at the African championships in Asaba,” said former AFN president, Solomon Ogba.
Already, Okagbare’s hubby, Igho Otegheri, an ex-footballer, is in a celebratory mood as he is elated with the heroics of his spouse few days to the commencement of the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia.
On his Facebook page, he wrote: “Woah! what a glorious day… … plz join me to celebrate this amazing woman, the queen of my heart as she powered on a blistering 22.04 today in the women’s 200m in Abilene Texas, a new African record… What a perfect way to start the season, I am sooo proud of you honey… . God is indeed grateful and his praises will never cease from my lips… This great feat was achieved because you re God, and there is nothing too hard for you to do, the Lord that has started this good work in your life will surely perfect it in Jesus name… Amen Your best is yet to come… Congratulations once again # queen B#Queen of my heart# My priceless#”
Okagbare won the sprint double at the last Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.
She would be expected to do same at the Gold Coast in Australia as she is top on the list of 37 athletes to represent Nigeria in the Track and Field events. It is however being speculated that she will only run the relays at the 2018 Commonwealth Games starting April 4 in Gold-Coast Australia. She will be joining her teammates who left on Saturday for the Games on a later date.
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