Warri Relays & CAA Grand Prix Countdown: Okagbare, Amusan arrive in Nigeria

Nigeria’s top performers on the track this season Blessing Okagbare-Ighoteguonor and Tobi Amusan have both arrived in Nigeria ahead of the 2017 Warri Relays & CAA Grand Prix.

The 2017 Warri Relays & CAA Grand Prix which is fixed for Tuesday, July 18 at the Delta State Polytechnic Stadium, Ozoro, is guaranteed to have a rich number of top athletes on parade; some of whom are already arriving in the country.

 Okagbare who last weekend in London ran an impressive 10.99secs in women’s 100m event is one of the star attractions even as the Sprints queen will hope to strike a better rhythm on the home front as she counts down to the World Championships in London.

For Amusan, the home crowd will have a glimpse of the hurdler who has been hugging the headlines with breathtaking performances in the circuit in the United States this season.

Among other heroics, Amusan last month, won the women’s 100m Hurdles at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) title with a new personal best time of 12.57s.

The Delta State Government, as well as Solid Works, will be sponsoring the 2017 Warri Relays & CAA Grand Prix which over the years has attracted top athletes from across the world to the oil-rich and sports loving State.

Chief Solomon Ogba, CEO, Solid Works, revealed that outside of the elite cast of athletes, the High School and Inter-Collegiate Category is also gathering much momentum as students in and around Delta State are looking forward to the July 18th Meet with keen interest.

Ogba highlighted the need to continually provide platforms for youngsters to exhibit their skills and get discovered.

Abebe Dimkesa Eyes Okpekpe Road Race Glory

 

Ethiopia’s Abebe Dimkesa has expressed interest in participating in the 10km Okpekpe International Road Race slated for May 16 in Etsako- East area of Edo State.

 Dimkesa who spoke with our Reporter on Friday, stated that he intends to contact the organisers of the annual race for more information, as he was hearing about the race for the first time despite the fact that the race was already in its third edition.  

The marathoner, who is well known for his exploits and regular participation at the annual Obudu International Mountain Race, has carted home the cash prizes ranging from fifty thousand dollars and more at the Obudu International Mountain Race in Calabar.  

Dimkesa is, however, in top form for any race as he is also preparing for the Saudi Arabia half-marathon slated for April 21.

Meanwhile, this  year’s Okpekpe race cash prizes range from $25,000(1st Prize Winner), $15,000(2nd Prize Winner) and $10,000 (3rd Prize Winner) for those in the male category just as female athletes participating at the  3rd edition  would also cart home cash prizes ranging from $15,000(1st Prize),$ 10,000(2nd Prize) and $8,000(3rd Prize).

Edo State indigenes would also benefit from special cash prizes earmarked for them. The 1st Edo indigene to breast the tape would go home with a cash prize of N100, 000 in the male category, while the first female settles for seventy-five thousand naira.

The first runner up will get N75, 000 in the male category, while in the female category; the winner gets N50, 000. The 3rd placed winner will settle for N50, 000 and N25, 000 respectively.

Ibile Games 2015 Awards: Lagos Pours Encomium On Ex Olympian, Olowu.

For giving back through the awards for the best long jump athletes, the Lagos state government has commended former athlete and Nigeria team captain to the 1952 Helsinki Olympic Games, Alhaji Karim Babalola Olowu, OON for instituting the annual awards.

The K.A.B Olowu Awards which will be given to the best three long jump athletes in Lagos State saw the first set of recipients honored during the prize giving ceremony for outstanding performance at the recently concluded Lagos State Secondary Schools Sports Festival tagged IBILE Games 2015.

Speaking at the ceremony held at the Sports Bar‎, inside the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, the Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Social Development, Barrister Wahid Enitan Oshodi represented by the Permanent Secretary, Office of Sports, Mr Sowedo Oluseyi Whenu, described the gesture of the legendary long jumper as a way to encourage upcoming athletes to give their best at all times.

Whenu said the award has ensured that the name of Alhaji K.A.B Olowu has been etched in history while the Olympian who represented Nigeria at the British Empire Games in 1950 and two Olympic Games in 1952 and 1956 as well as three Commonwealth Games where he won two silver medals, ‎is still alive.

"He's a role model for us all and we appreciate his magnanimity for donating trophies and cash awards for the first, second and third annual best long juimp athletes. This, he has promised to be doing every year and even when he is ripe enough and no more, his family will continue the legacy. There is no doubt that he has written his name in gold," Whenu said.

The K.A.B Olowu award was given to Kake Tope, a student of Federal ‎College of Science and Technology, Yaba who leaped 6.26 metre at the Lagos Secondary Schools Sports Festival. Tope who was represented at the award ceremony by his coach,  Adu also got the sum of N100,000 from Alhaji Olowu.

Second placed Idowu Timelehin of International School, Akoka, Lagos with the jump of 6.21 metre was rewarded with N75,000, while Agbo Olisa of White Sands Schools, Lekki with the record, 6.19 metre received N50,000.

Equipment and facilities in various sports were given to the six outstanding schools at the 2015 Ibile Games; three in junior secondary school category and three in the senior secondary school category.

Lagos Rewards Best Schools, Athletes Of IBILE Games 2015

The Lagos State Government through the Office of Sports, Ministry of Youth, Sports and Social Development would reward best schools of the Lagos State Secondary Schools Sports Festival tagged IBILE Games 2015 at Sir Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos Thursday.

 

A statement from the Public Relations Officer, PRO, Office of Sports, Filade Olumide says that award will be given to four overall outstanding athletes of the competition and Alhaji K.A.B. Olowu (OON) award for the best Long Jump athletes at a ceremony which will hold by 2p.m. The statement said that the awardees would be presented with various prizes at the event. 

 

Among the beneficiaries in the Junior Secondary Schools Category are Questland College, Iju Ishaga; Baptist Secondary School, Obanikoro and Herbert Macaulay Junior High School, Ebute Metta from Education Districts 1, 2 and 4 respectively; while in the Senior Secondary Schools Category are Federal Government College, Ijanikin; Ilupeju Grammar School, Ilupeju and Angus Memorial Senior Grammar School, Ebute Metta in Education Districts 5, 6 and 4 respectively.

 

The Permanent Secretary, Office of Sports, Mr. Sewedo Oluseyi Whenu said these prizes were promised before the commencement of the tournament on 26 January, 2015. 

 

“The administration of Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) of Lagos with penchant for rewarding excellence is committed to fulfilling promises made to our future leaders (athletes) and the educational institutions that produced them as a way of encouraging keen competition among participating schools (public and private) at the state and federal levels with a view to involving our budding talents in achieving fame, fortune and economic empowerment,” Whenu said.

Okpekpe 2015: International Athletes To Arrive In May.

 
The coordinator of the annual Okpekpe 10km Road Race, Yusuf Alli, has revealed that some of the international athletes will be arriving the community from May 14 ahead of the race scheduled for May 16.
 

Speaking with sportsweight.blogspot.com, Alli said all the athletes pencilled down for the race have confirmed their participation and will be coming in from May 14.

“We are going to intensify preparation immediately after the national election and I can confirm to you that the international athletes will be arriving from May 14,” he said.

“Because of our plan for the race, we have contacted some top long distance runners across the continent while some others have also signified their interest.”

On the performance of some of the country’s athletes at the Splash FM Integrity Race in Ibadan, the 1990 Commonwealth Games gold medallist said it was a welcome development.

He said: “The idea is to have enough major races before the competition so that our athletes can be in top shape for the race.”

He however said the target of the organiser, Padmodzi was to see in the nearest future a citizen of the Okpekpe community representing Nigeria at the Olympics in long distance race.

“The plan for us in Padmozi is that in future somebody from Okpekpe community will compete in the Olympic Game for Nigeria.

“We have athletes from Edo State at the Olympics and the neighbouring states, but we want someone from the town itself to represent Nigeria in long distance race at the Olympics,” Alli added.

 

Athletes target records, As Lagos Premier Lotto Schools Athletics Tourney Enters Final Phase

As the final phase of the Premier Lotto Lagos Athletics Championship starts today at the Teslim Balogin Stadium,Surulere, eight states and eight tertiary institutions in Lagos State will take part in the  invitational relay of the grand finale on Saturday, eight of March,2014.

According to Uthman Ola-Okunnu, secondary school pupils from education districts four, five and six will take to the track today at the Teslim Balogun Stadium for their qualifiers to the main event this weekend.

Education district four which comprises of schools from Surulere, Mainland, and Apapa will compete today, while education district five made up of schools from Amuwo Odofin, Ajeromi and Badagry will tomorrow compete for places in the final team  .

On Wednesday, it will be the turn of education disrtict six, which comprises of secondary schools from Oshodi Isolo, Mushin and Ikeja that made up district six will jostle for spots.

The first phase ended last week with three education districts competing for final selection for the grand finale of the season two of the Lagos Premier Lotto Schools Athletics Championship

Christine Ohuruogu Sympathise With Nigerian Track And Field Athletes.

Nigerian born British world class athlete, Christine Ohuruogu, has sympathize with Nigeria track and field athletes over the condition at which they train to excel in international competitions.

Ohuruogu, a member of the British Empire, made the statement in Lagos yesterday while speaking on her support for the Damilola Taylor Foundation which was launched by the British Deputy High Commission in Lagos, Peter Carter.

The four hundred metres world champion in 2007, 2013, who had the opportunity of meeting some group of Nigerian athletes in Lagos, said the discussion showed that Nigerian athletes were not exposed to quality training equipment, medical service, reputable and renowned coaches whose technical depth could transform them to blossom in the mold of Usain Bolt.
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While acknowledging that Nigerian track and field athletes are passionate to compete for thier fatherland, the 2006 Commonwealth Games Gold medalist, said some of the nation's international athletes who are exposed to world class training equipment only visit or compete in Nigeria's athletic trial proceeding major international athletics meets because the structure on ground would not encourage them to success.

The athlete, who hails from Imo State, said it was not possible to dump England and represent Nigeria in any IAAF organised events for any reason as she stressed that the British Government has provide necessary materials and equipment to excel.

"No. Nigerians are always offended each time I made such statement.  I was born in Britain. That is the county I schooled, my talents, my skills.  The country invested in me since I was a kid playing netball.  The coaches have to be paid, coming out to coach in the rain or winter.  It is always nice to give back to the society by saying thank you."There are a lot of Nigerians in the British team and we do support each other.

She said the British Government had invest heavily on her right from her tender age when she played netball and it would be good enough for her to play back by winning laurels which according to her is a sign of appreciating a responsible government.

"It is a shame for Nigerian athletes leaving their mother nation to compete for other countries to win medals for them.  It is a shame. When I speak with them, they tell me, it’s so hard for them and it should be hard because what we do is hard. No choice for them."She said

The 2013 Sky sport and Sun Times British Sports Woman of the year, said it was a shame for Nigerian athletes defecting to compete for another countries following lack of incentives and sports equipment, stressing that some of them naturalized because of the need to add value to their career and also built a good life after athletics.

"They must in sports heavily and the gesture helped the British athletes to record good outing at the London 2012 Olympic games unlike in Nigeria where the athletes were been blamed for poor outing at the Games despite non-availability of required facilities to excel."

"Nigerian government has the right to complain bitterly over the dismal outing if necessary facilities and required incentive are in place for the athletes."

She said the National Sports Commission, NSC, should not blame its athletes for a woeful performance at the London 2012 Games because the Federal Government through the NSC is yet to create an enabling environment for its wards to stand out as champions in the world athletic events.

According to her, the silver medal she won in the 400 hundred metres at the London 2012 Olympic Games was because the British Government had faith in her ability to win laurels, adding that the government positive concern on sports paved the way for her and other British athletes to record good performance at the Games.

Am successful in the sport because the British government makes available everything she needs to excel since the country has fate in her ability to win laurels.

On drugs cheat, the 2013, 400 metres champion, said her philosophy of winning was to continue working hard an d the move has really encourage her to achieve a lot in track and field events, stressing that the use of performance enhancing drugs has done much damage to the sport.

NSC Employs High Performance Directors For Sports.

The National Sports Commission has taken adequate steps to improve Nigeria’s performance in elite sports and to ensure that the country becomes a sporting powerhouse in the world.

As part of this measure, the Honourable Minister and Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, on Tuesday presented to the media the newly appointed National High Performance Director, Angie Taylor and a Performance Director for Athletics, Eric Campbell.

It was the first time in the history of Nigerian sports that a national high performance director and a performance director have been engaged to oversee the development of elite sports in the country.

A very excited Sports Minister, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi stated at the event that it was the need to be proactive and see Nigeria achieve podium level success in international competitions that propelled the Commission to employ the foreign experts to oversee the high performance system, which the Commission has put in place.

A high performance system is a science –based support system for elite athletes The only High Performance Centre in West Africa is being built in Abuja, Nigeria and the Minister stated that this would be completed in February 2014.

He explained that the process of engaging the foreign experts, both of whom are from the US, was very rigorous, as they had to scale very tedious recruitment exercise conducted by sports consultants Mackenzie. As National High Performance Director, Taylor is to oversee the development of elite athletes in five sports: Athletics, Boxing, Taekwondo, Weightlifting, and Wrestling. Performance Director for Athletics, Campbell would work with Taylor to develop a programme to ensure that achieves podium success in athletics.

“What we are doing here is history”, stated Abdullahi. “The disappointment of London 2102 was what led to the unanimous decision to start doing things differently. One key lesson was that at this time and age no country could hope to perform and achieve podium success at the global level without a robust high performance system that translates talent into excellence. In Taylor and Campbell, we have got the best possible hand s we can get.”

Both Taylor and Campbell said they were happy to be in Nigeria to help the country achieve its full potentials in sports. “ I am so excited by the opportunity to here today. With my experience I am confident that I can help Nigeria with the goal of achieving greater sporting success,” said Taylor.

Chief Solomon Ogba, President of Athletics Federation of Nigeria, commended the Minister for the appointment of the new technical experts.

“ For years, we are at AFN have called for quality hands with the right experience to help with our sports, I am happy that it is happening today with the appointment of these two technical experts. I commend the honourable Minister for his foresight and wisdom,” Ogba said.

Kefaf, Aminat To Represent Nigeria At We Run, Joborg.

Wilhams Kefaf of Plateau State and Olowora Amin at of Lagos State have emerged the champions of the ten kilometre race tagged We Run, Lagos,which ended today at the mainbowl of the Teslim Balogun Stadium,Surulere.

"My brother called me on Friday morning that he had registered me for a race inLagos State.I told him I cannot make it because he will travel to Cross River State for the Obudu Mountain Race on Wednesday to represent the country at the event."

"He forced to cimne to Lagos and also to see the competition as a training for the Obudu Mountain Race.Just on Friday,I arrived Lagos.Before the race, I was not happy even when I was running, because my car was stolen on today(Saturday). When I was running, I was thinking over the car theft"he said.
"Am not satisfied with the time he recorded because, am not able to run 28 or 29 minutes.The race is good.Thanked Nike Nigeria, for sponsoring the race.I want AFN to help the nation's long distance athletes to compete in long distance races.Nigerian athletes are running 14 minutes while Kenyans are running 12 minutes.Appeal to AFN,to camp them for six months in Plateau State."

"Am very happy to win the race.Have trained hard towards the competition. I never thought that I will be among the first best 22 athletes".I am preparing for the next Saturday marathon race in Lagos State and this tournament will serve as good ground to excel."

The race flagged off by the Lagos State Commissioner for sports, Wahid Enitan Oshodi,today(Saturday) at Onikan,saw Kefaf, a police officer,winning the race in the male category by 30 minutes,41seconds while Olowora Amin at who won three Gold medals in long distance races t the last National Sports Festival,tagged Eko 2012 Games won the race with a time of 34 Minutes'54 seconds.

For this,the duo of Kefaf and Amin at will represent Nigeria at the 2014 We Run' Jorborg as they are also entitled to Nike products and a giant refrigerator each.

Other top winners in the race that attracted over one thousand participants from different walks of life, saw Lawrence Osheku,who ran 30 minutes,48 seconds,clinching the second position while Adeyemi Olaoluwa,who ran 30 minutes, 51 Seconds,in the male cadre.

Pereira Oluwabukola,settled for the second position (37 minutes,15 seconds)as Doris Wudus,ran a time of (38 minutes, 23 seconds) to become the second runners up.

In an interview with sports journalists, Kefaf,who arrived Lagos State on Friday night in readiness for the race,said he was not satisfied with the time(30 minutes,41 seconds) he recorded at the one day race because he had set his mind on finishing the race either 28 or 29 minutes,adding that the theft of his car on the day of the race really distablise him from achieving his set objective.

Kefaf,who will be competing at this year's Obudu Mountain Race,in Cross River State,commended the Lagos State Government as well as Nike Nigeria for creating opportunity for the country's marathon athletes to showcase their talents,adding that the Nigeria Athletic Federation,AFN,should endeavor to pave the way for them t feature in regular competitions so as to compete against the Kenyans who are rated among the world best marathon runners.

He said camping them for a period of five to six months intensive training programmes in Plateau State to boost their morale and also encourage them to perform beyond expectations at international meets.

An elated Amin at,who had trained hard to win the race,said the feat would enable her to perform better at the forthcoming 10 kilometre race.

The national sports festival gold medalist,said her make counterparts whom she ran along with,inspired her to increase her pace as she never believed she could finish the race with 34.56 seconds.

The Commissioner for Sports,Wahid Enitan Oshodi,said hosting the race which had been staged in 26 countries,explained the the importance of Lagos State in hosting competition of such magnitude based on the quality of sports facilities, stressing that the event would enhance their athletes to be in good shape ahead of any competition.

"We run,Lagos,is a major event worldwide.They have done in 15 major cities in the world.It tells you the importance of the big race as Lagos have similar developmental programme.The programme will give Lagosian fit and enable their wards to be in good shape." He said"

"The most important thing for us.This are the kind of programme we need to be doing to fish out talents.Lagos have infrastructure to host competitions as plans are in top gear to revive the Lagos Marathon"

Oshodi,whose ministry in conjunction with Glaxosmithline will be organising another similar event,said the race was part of their developmental sports programme to discover and nurture athletes to stardom,adding that plans are in top gear to revived the Lagos marathon.

To Marketing Communication managerof Nike Nigeria,Segun Ogunleye,the race is to Connect and inspire the marathon runners across the country, stressing that We Run, Lagos,has not only communicate the energy of Lagos State but it has communicate tghe iconic landscape of the State and beautiful hard work of Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola.

"The event is basically to connect and inspire runners across Nigeria.It is also about communicating the energy of a particular city,unique energy of that city"We Run, Lagoshave been able to communicate the beauty of the state,energy and the youths.

He assured that the duo of Kefaf and Amin at would be given necessary technical support to perform better at the We Run, JoborG,2014.

IAAF President Blasts WADA, Defends Jamaica, Kenya Over 'Ridiculous' Campaigns.

IAAF President Lamine Diack has strongly defended his sport against a wave of attacks from the World Anti-doping Agency, WADA and the ‘ridiculous’ campaign against track giants Kenya and Jamaica. 

Just hours before he presented the Male and Female Athlete of the year award to the Jamaican pair of Usain Bolt and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce in Monaco, Diack claimed there has been unwarranted focus on track and field yet it is one of the sporting discipline that was leading the fight against doping. 

“I read in the newspaper all the time about Jamaica, Kenya…WADA making statements. Jamaica now is in the position to conduct its own doping tests,”Diack said, clearly irritated by the attention on the sprint and long distance giants.

“So after Jamaica it was Kenya. Kenya! Kenya!because one doctor said they are dopers,” he continued in reference to a German Television report which aired last year that claimed that there was widespread doping amongst the country’s renowned distance runners.

“They are the most tested countries in the world! All this is ridiculous. It is like WADA is making a campaign trying to make a statement. They went to Jamaica what did they find? Nothing!” added Diack responding to a statement by the former Wada president John Fahey criticizing Jamaica and Kenya's commitment to fighting drug cheats in the wake of a string of failed tests in the two countries.

“They have found and suspended some athletes which is positive and a good move. We must stop all these. We are doing our best in athletics. You rarely hear of four-year suspensions in football but they have doping concerns too, ”said Diack. 

Jamaica's drugs testing concerns were raised after the country's former anti-doping commission executive director Renee Anne Shirley said the agency had conducted only one out-of-competition test in the run up to the Olympic Games in London. 

Just before the world championships in Moscow last August six Jamaicans including Asafa Powell and three-time Olympic gold winner Veronica Campbell-Brown were suspended for doping. 

Over the last one-year 17 Kenyans returned positive tests, which heightened concerns that the country needs to step up its anti-doping efforts.

Usain Bolt Wants To Break 19 Seconds Barrier In 2014.

The fastest man on the planet, Usain Bolt of Jamaica, wants to keep running and run the 200 metres in under 19 seconds and possibly as early as 2014.

Bolt, writing in his autobiography "Faster Than Lightning" and which went on bookshelves on Tuesday, said that achieving that landmark would mean having a 'perfect' season, similar to his exploits in 2008.

The Jamaican speedster believes achieving that feat would mean more than winning medals at the next Olympic Games.

"Supposing I don't make any quicker times in the 100, I would love to be able to run 18-something seconds in the 200, even if it was an 18.99 race. Forget making the next Olympics and the medals, breaking that time would be an ever bigger success. I'd love to crack it, knowing that people were sitting in their homes and losing their minds at my achievement," he scribed in his 291-page book.

"To reach that landmark pace, I would need to have the perfect season, like the one I had in '08. I think next year could be my shot at it, though the window of opportunity is getting smaller with every campaign. The older I get, the narrower that window becomes; the harder it is form me to reach peak fitness in time for a major race.

However, he said that given what he has done in the past, he is not ruling out rounding off his track career with another world record, noting that he is the only obstacle to his progress.

"I don't think it's totally out of reach in the next season or so. Seriously, who would be surprised if I did it? Who's going to stop me from going fast? The only man who can bring an end to my status as a star of track and field in the next couple of years is me, and I'm a phenomenon, a serious competitor - a legend for my generation. Believe me, my time isn't' up just yet," he warned.

In his full autobiography, Bolt tells his story in his own words - from humble beginnings in Jamaica, to international stardom including Olympic Games in Beijing and London.

Bolt became the first man in Olympic history to win both the 100m and 200m in world record times in 2008, and etched his name in history four years later by becoming the first man to win the sprint double at consecutive Olympic games as well as setting three world records in a single Olympic Games.

There are doubts as to whether Bolt could repeat these performances at the Rio Games in 2016. Bolt, for his part, is not too concerned about the huge challenge and expectation especially with the new crop of young and talented sprinters in Jamaica. He said that just thought of trying to get to Brazil is already giving him the spark, despite his age.

"If there's a possibility that I might make it, then I'm going to give it everything I've got. I've talked to Coach (Glen Mills) about our chances, and we've discussed the situation sensibly by looking at some of the other athletes around us. I'll be turning 30 when Brazil comes around."

"Some guys in track and field have run times of 9.80, 9.90 seconds at that age. If I take care of my body and if I can push myself to the limits, then I don't doubts my ability to make 9.60 seconds in 2016. The important thing for me is to land there and compete at a high level. At least then I'll be able to say, 'I attempted it, I got a silver, a bronze, whatever. I way in with a chance and I tried.' Imagine if I managed to win gold, though. The parties i Rio would be off the scale," he said.

He said that if he is not at the top of his game by 2016 then he want to turn to another sport, preferably football.

For now, I want to run as fast as I can and be the best in the world. When I finish with track and field I'll change sports and move on. If I can't race at the top level by 2016, then I want to turn my hand to another game - football, most probably, because I can play, and with enough effort I can get better."

Authored by award-winning sport writer Matt Allen, the autobiography also acknowledged many of the people who have supported Bolt on his journey to stardom.

He cited the influence of Mills and former coaches Pablo McNeil and Fitz Coleman, his executive manager and long-time friend Nugent "NJ" Walker Jr, agent Ricky Simms and his management team including Norman Peart.