Daily Trust (Abuja)

Nigeria: I Am Delighted With Okagbare's New World Record - Iheagwam

Tina Iheagwam, a former national sprinter, has commended Blessing Okagbare's recent feat at the just concluded London Diamond League where she won the 100m event.

Iheagwam told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos that Okagbare's performance, at the July 13 to July 15 meet in London; was worth celebrating.

NAN reports that Blessing Okagbare came first with a returning time of 11.01, ahead of Carmelita Jeter who came second with a time 11.03 and Tianna Madison came third by 11.13

"I am happy that Blessing won at the Diamond League because this is a sign that we will do well in the 100 metres of the 2012 Olympics Athletics event, " she said.

Iheagwam also urged Okagbare to be more focused and save her best performance for the main event at the forthcoming London Olympic Games.

"Now that Blessing has defeated the world fastest women in 100m, I bet you that Jeter, Fraser-Pryce will want to avenge their loss London Olympics.

"I believe that Blessing is talented and would hopefully move on to perform better at the Olympics but she needs to be focused and not allow her recent success to get into her head.

Iheagwam, who won a gold medal at the World Junior Athletics Championships in Greece in 1986, urged Okagbare to put aside any form of anxiety that could blight her preparations for the Games.

"I urge Blessing not to relent in her effort; this is not the time to unduly stress herself.

" This is not the time to be anxious because the world is watching and I know Nigerians are praying for her," she said.

NAN

  • Comment

Copyright © 2012 Daily Trust. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.

AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 130 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.

Comments Post a comment