18th May, 2012
Tony Osheku, a member of the coaching crew of Nigeria Olympic Athletics Team, has said that US-based Amaechi Morton will deliver for the country in the coming Olympic Games in London.
The Nigerian born athlete last weekend at the Hayward Field in Eugene Oregon, won his first Pac-12 Championship title in a time of 48.95 seconds in the 400m hurdles event.
Morton, who was convinced into switching his allegiance to Nigeria, by coach Pat Itanyi was part of Nigeria’s 4×4 4x400m relay team at the 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics in Berlin, Germany in 2009, and is among the eight athletes who have run under 49 seconds this season, thereby making the Olympic ‘A’ standard.
Coach Osheku, believes Morton has what it takes to deliver the goods for Nigeria, “Amaechi has always proved to be a very talented athlete and I want to advice the Athletic Federation of Nigeria, AFN to settle whatever dfferences it has with the athlete so that Nigeria can produce a formidable 1600 relay team at the Olympics as well as a potential 400m hurdles finalist. He is the second fastest Nigerian so far in the 400m flat (46.12) behind Biola Onakoya who ran 46.08 seconds over the weekend.’’ said Osheku.
Morton will compete at the 66th Cross River State/AFN All Nigeria Open Athletics Championships slated for next month in Calabar, where all Nigerian athletes hoping to be in London, will converge for a final trials and selection for the games.