Nigerian women sprinters lived up to their rating in the opening day of the African Athletics Championships in Nairobi, Kenya yesterday.

Blessing Okagbare, Damola Osayomi and Agnes Osazuwa put up perfromances that made all feel that they could make the final medal haul for the 100 meters a 1,2,3 show for Nigeria.

But Ogho-Oghene Egwero and Obinna Metu have to work hard, to keep the precious medal in the family in the final that will be decided today.

The men and women 100m semi-final was the highlight of yesterday's events, which saw Nigeria raking in a mixed blessing of results even as South Africa and Kenya took the first gold of the Championships.

When the sprinters stepped into the tracks, there was no disputing who is the best women in Africa. Okagbare topped her semi-final heat with an 11.16 seconds. She left top challenger, Zang Milama reeling behind. The Gabonese had the second fastest time in Africa this season, but she could only manage 11.37 seconds in Nairobi.

Damola Osayomi and Agnes Osazuwa in the second semi-final heat, posted 11. 26 and 11.33 seconds to set up the prospect of Nigeria sweeping the medals in the women race. They were first and second respectively.

Egwero and Metu qualified for the men's final with some difficulties as they placed second in their respective heats. Egwero, with a 10.17 effort, was slightly overshadowed by Ghana's Aziz Zakare who posted 10.16, the fastest time of the semi-finals. Metu appeared to be coasting but later slowed down and South Africa's Simon Magwake burst past in him in 10.24. The Nigeria's champion posted 10.30 seconds.

In other events decided yesterday, Nigeria's women made the final of 400m in which Botswana's Amantle Montsho running the fastest time of 51. 66 seconds won while Nigeria's Sade Abughan and Josephine Ehigie ran 53.64 and 54. 48 respectively. In the men's race Saul Weigopua pushed into the semi- final running 46. 94 seconds, while Noah Akwu failed to go beyond the rounds with his 47.03.

In the men's 800m, Nigeria's Ishiaku Mohammed was simply blown away in the race, which Kenya's David Rudisha is tipped to win. He has the world's fastest time this season. Ishiaku who is unbeaten in Nigeria for two seasons was no match for the East Africans.

In the men's long jump Stanley Gbagbeke and Samson Idiata are in the final of the event featuring highly rated jumpers like Khotso Mokena of South Africa and Ghana's Ignisious Gaisah. Idiata did 7.65m in the qualifying rounds, while Gbagbeke did 7.63m. Mokoena's 8.12m and Senegal's Ndiss Kaba Badji's 8.09 are the best jumps leading to the final.

Nigeria's Queen Obisean and Bolalane Ogun are in the final of the women hammer. In the qualifiers they both did 55.13m way below the leading throw of 58.51 made by Senegal's Amy Sene.