Olympics: Okagbare dashes Nigeria’s medal hope

Nigeria’s greatest hope for an Olympic medal, Blessing Okagbare failed this evening to meet her nation’s expectation.

She did not end up in the medal zone in the finals of the Olympics 100 metres in the race concluded Saturday night.

She came last in the field of eight runners, in a time of 11.01 seconds, behind 7th placed Ivorian Mourielle Ahoure, who clocked 11.00 seconds.

Tiana Madison of the USA and compatriot, Allyson Felix came fourth and fifth, while Trinidad’s Kelly Ann Baptiste was sixth.

Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce successfully defended her Olympic women’s 100m crown, clocking 10.75sec to edge America’s Carmelita Jeter by just 0.03sec.

Jamaica’s Veronica Campbell-Brown took bronze in 10.81sec.

Okagbare had led all her heats, but her timing of 10.95 seconds created doubts whether she could spring a surprise in the final as Jeter, for instance, had returned faster times.

Okagbare was not the only bad news for Team Nigeria Saturday. The nation’s basketball team, D’Tigers was also defeated by Argentina 93-79.

Also Team Nigeria’s women 400 metres athletes in the Olympics, failed to qualify for the final of the event on Saturday in London.

Regina George who posted 51.24 seconds in the earlier round, which was not too bad, compared to her personal best of 51.11, was fifth with a disappointing 51.35 in heat two.

“I am not happy but I should have done better. However, I am grateful for the experience gained,’’ she said immediately after the race.

George was, however, hopeful that the experience gained would be valuable for the team in the 4 x 400m relay on Friday.

“It was an experience I will probably be needing the next time and I am hopeful it will be in the relays,’’ she said.

In heat three of the event, George’s teammate Omolara Omotosho placed fourth with an uninspiring time of 51.41, although the time was better than her earlier showing of 52.11.

“Well, it is one of those things that happen. I actually didn’t expect the race I ran yesterday (Friday), but I look forward to another time,’’ she said.

Nigeria’s men also crashed out in the 100 metres event.

Peter Emelieze who ran in heat six, had to contend with Jamaica’s Yohan Blake who holds the season’s best time, but finished fifth with a time of 10.22 seconds.

It was, however, a futile performance that failed to get him one of the three fastest runners’ tickets into Sunday’s semi-finals.

Compatriot Obinna Metu ran in heat five and also placed fifth, four places behind Jamaica’s Asafa Powell, but with a time of 10.35 secs.

Ogho-oghene Egwero ran alongside the defending champion, Usain Bolt of Jamaica, in heat four and he got no inspiration from that as he finished sixth, with a time of 10.38 secs.

Speaking after the heat, Emelieze felt sad at his failure to qualify for the semi-finals, in spite of his spirited effort.

“It is expected that I should be happy with a season best here, but I don’t think I am. I would have loved to have qualified and from there, make an attempt for a medal.

“I came here to win a medal, not a season best,” he said.

On his part, Metu said he tried his best, saying it was a tough race.

“I knew it was going to be this tough and I tried my best. It was just unfortunate that I and my teammates didn’t qualify, but it was a really tough race,” he said.