Olympic Games: Okagbare Dumps 200m For 100m, L/Jump

In a bid to maximise her medal prospects at the 2012 London Olympics, Nigeria’s brightest medal hopeful in track and field, Blessing Okagbare, has dumped the 200m for 100m and Long Jump events.

While speaking in live radio telephone programme from her base in America early today, the bronze medalist in the long jump event at the 29th Olympic Games in Beijing said her decision to compete in only two events in London was to ensure she concentrates on those sports where she is sure of winning a medal for the country.

“At my present fitness level and the fact that I will be competing against the world’s best athletes in London, it will be wise for me to focus on 100m and the Long Jump events, where I am sure of my comparative advantage.

“The schedule of events in London is done in such a way that all the races are scheduled too close to oneanother. It will be very demanding of athletes that will compete in multiple events,, hence my decision to drop the 200m race,” she explained.

Okagbare, who rarely runs in 200m events at international and major tourneys, was in an impressive form at the weekend at the 54th annual Mount San Anthonio relays in California, USA, as she ran a new 22.70sec. personal best in the 200m to place second behind Leslie Cole (22.63).

Her previous personal best was 22.71sec.she ran two years ago in Lignano Sabbiadoro in the province of Udinese in Italy.

—Bamidele Olowosagba