Nigeria’s multi-talented athlete Blessing Okagbare won the women’s 100m gold at Hampden Park on Monday.
The 25-year-old, who ran the fastest time in both Sunday’s heats and Monday’s semi-finals in 11.20secs and
10.93 secs respectively, finished off an emphatic finale with a winning time of 10.85sec- a new Commonwealth Games record and season’s best.
Jamaica’s Veronica Campbell-Brown and Kerron Stewart occupied the silver and bronze steps on the podium in a finish time of 11.03secs and 11.07secs(SB) respectively with Team Nigeria’s other qualifier, Gloria Asumnu, taking the last position in 11.41secs.
“I’m so excited right now!,” an elated Okagbare yelled at the BBC reporter after the win. “A new season’s best and win.
“I’m happy I was able to put on a show. I executed it and stayed patient like my coach said I should and after 70 metres it just fell easy!
There was sure one winner in the race from 70m onward following the African sprint queen’s fast start and her composed but full stride.
Runners-up Campbell-Brown failed to get the half-metre she required to pressurise the champion.
Up next for the World Championships bronze medalist is the 200m and the long jump.
“I still have the 200m and the long jumps and I’m looking to both of those events,” she added.
Nigeria have won 10 medals- 3 gold, 4 silver and 3 bronze medals (as at time of report) and are ranked in 10th position in the medal table.
