Nairobi — Nigeria's golden girl of the moment, Blessing Okagbare yesterday arrived Team Nigeria's Hillpark Hotel camp here in Nairobi, Kenya, two days to the start of the 17th African Senior Athletics Championships. The University of El Paso at Texas general Studies major who, ten days ago, won the 200m event of the Lignano Meet in Italy in 22.71 and also added the long jump silver to it with a 6.53m jump, is Nigeria's biggest hope for medal hauls at the championships.

Rotimi Obajimi, coordinator of Team Nigeria's coaches here at the championships expressed his joy at the arrival of the Delta State athlete, stressing that with Okagbare's current form Nigeria was out for a clean sweep of the sprint events. "We are happy that Blessing (Okagbare) has arrived camp here before the championships start on Wednesday. With her current form, we should be celebrating in anticipation of a good outing," observed the coach who is also a respected IAAF instructor.

Okagbare who just few months back helped her university to a major triumph in the American NCAA and a personal achievement of becoming the second Nigerian to win double honours at the height of college track & field, is expected to compete in the 100m, 200m, Long Jump and the 4x100m relay.

Interestingly, most of the Nigerian athletes who spoke yesterday admitted to have benefitted from coming here earlier to aclimatise ahead of the kick of the competition.

Sprinters Obinna Metu and Oghoghene Egwero said separately that the high altitude condition of the Kenyan capital was enough to destabilize any unsuspecting runner.

"As you can see, the weather here is very cold. Any one coming from our part of Africa who did not have enough rest here may run into trouble," observed Egwero who was just stepping out of the Nyayo Stadium warm up track. Metu also admitted to be in fine shape for the sprint event.

However, most of the athletes were apprehensive of when the kits expected from sportwear giants, Nike would arrive here.

But Navy Captain Omatseye Nesiama, AFN board member who also doubles as camp commandant dispaelled fears over the kits, insisting that the delay may have been occasioned by the late-arrival of the federation's scribe, Mrs Maria Wophill from the World Junior Championships in Canada. "There is no fear over kits. I am sure that as soon as the secretary arrives here everything will be sorted out," observed the board member.

The only members of the team still being expected by the end of today are Damola Osayomi and Tosin Oke.