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Nigeria: Metu Shocks Fasuba to 100 Metre Crown
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This Day (Lagos)
3 July 2008
Posted to the web 3 July 2008
Duro Ikhazuagbe
Abuja
Obinna Metu yesterday stopped reigning African champion, Olusoji Fasuba from becoming the first male runner to win the ExxonMobil Track and Field Championship for the third time when the Delta sprinter dipped to win the Olympic Trials in 10.17 secs. Fasuba was second in the photo finish 10.18sec while Adetoyi Durotoye picked bronze with 10.26secs.
The upset climaxed a beautiful day in which women's defending champion Gloria Kemasuode also lost her crown to reigning African champion Damola Osayomi. The former University of Texas in El Paso (UTEP) ran a personal best of 11.08 secs to become the new Mobil champion. Francisca Ene Idoko was second (11.25secs) while Kemasuode placed third (11.35 secs).
However, the much anticipated duel between Fasuba and Durotoye fizzled after the semi final in the morning in which the Abuja CAA Grand Prix winner only managed a fourth place to qualify for the final in the race won by Metu.
Discerning track and field follower immediately predicted that the final race was open due to the close times recorded by Fasuba and Metu.
Interestingly, Deji Aliu who on Tuesday evening failed to place in the semi final but was considered on the ground that his starting block slipped to be allowed to run as the ninth person in the second semi had the fourth best time into the final. But failed to get an Olympic place along with his junior brother Musa, who both finished 7th and 8th respectively in the final.
Speaking shortly after the final, Metu told THISDAYSports that he was now set for the big league winning his first major title for the first time.
"I am much fulfilled today winning the Mobil title for the first time. I didn't expect what happened here today. It was not because I was not adequately prepared but because of the strong field of top runners, including, Uchenna Emedolu, the former champion who is partly my coach and training partner. Emedolu gave me the confidence that I can be what I want to be if I train very hard and remain focused," gushed the new Mobil champion.
He said that now that he has gotten the chance to run in Nigeria's team to the Olympic in Beijing in August, he was going to step up his preparations.
"In Beijing, anything can happen. Let's leave everything to God," observed the 20-year-old former Enugu athlete.
But for the dethroned Fasuba, nothing spoils as the defeat was an indication for him to also step up his preparation for the Games.
"What I can vouch for today is that Nigeria now has a very strong sprint team to the Olympic.
This should be able to help us in the relays."
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Fasuba insisted that there was nothing wrong conceding defeat to Metu. "After all, Dwain Chambers a world classed sprinter didn't make the Great Britain team and didn't die. Why should I feel bad that another athlete has taken the Mobil title from me," he noted.
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