She has talent but at 30, age is no longer on her side and I think her body (she is big with power style of sprinting) can no longer cope especially in championships.

We have be grateful to her for almost single handedly winning our only medals in major championships over the last 13years.

Retirement is seemingly knocking. If she does, she has already done us proud over the years.

Litmus:
Okagbare DNS why does this girl always disappoint? You know, there is only so much witness can tolerate of divarism and supestarism. And some of us are heartily fed-up of Nigerian sportsmen and women behaving badly and expecting our support just because they blame government did not provide one thing or another. As for Nigeria authorities, it is about time that they begin to place unashamed emphases on patriotism as part of the selection process. What this would mean is emphasis on an industrial method of producing athletes to represent Nigeria and less on Talent. I envisage selecting young individuals based on physical attributes. You find teenagers no shorter than 5ft 9 (men) and 5ft 6 (women) and train them for various events. Coaches, and not the prospective young person, selects the event each youngster are to receive training. These trainees will also be thought in classrooms how to comport themselves abroad what and learn what the Nation expects of them and the meaning of sacrifice. Nigeria has so many determined youngsters able to represent Nigeria well and proudly at these world events and getting them ready is not that difficult.

Samba, Warholm and Benjamin through to tomorrow's Men's 400m hurdles final .
If was a betting man I will put a little money on a new world record.

GenBuhari:
She has talent but at 30, age is no longer on her side and I think her body (she is big with power style of sprinting) can no longer cope especially in championships.

We have be grateful to her for almost single handedly winning our only medals in major championships over the last 13years.

Retirement is seemingly knocking. If she does, she has already done us proud over the years.

Ekevowo is out, came fifth, in a disappointing 10.20. Athletes on both flanks at the starting line dwarfed our man. I have no confidence in the long-term prospects of short athletes, especially in Men’s 100 mitres and the jumps –long, triple and high.

Gatlin has to wait, did not qualify automatically.

Litmus:


Ekevowo is out, came fifth, in a disapointing 10.20

Me too, was very surprised at Samba’s performance.

GenBuhari:
Samba, Warholm and Benjamin through to tomorrow's Men's 400m hurdles final .

If was a betting man I will put a little money on a new world record.

Gatlin qualifies based on time.

100m final startlist is set. The final in 3 hours. My prediction, 1. Coleman, 2. De Grasse, 3. Blake/Gatlin/Simbine.

GenBuhari:
She has talent but at 30, age is no longer on her side and I think her body (she is big with power style of sprinting) can no longer cope especially in championships.

We have be grateful to her for almost single handedly winning our only medals in major championships over the last 13years.

Retirement is seemingly knocking. If she does, she has already done us proud over the years.

Kind and considerate words on your part, by the way; however, some points you made solicit the question, why does she keep going to these championships, incurring expenses and in place of others that could do with the chance perhaps.

Mixed 4x4 relay, first time to be featured in the worlds champs.

1. Coleman
2. Gatlin
3. De Grasse
Coleman fastest man in the world at 9.76s now the third fastest US man ever, sixth fastest man in history.

Not many are shorter than Christian Coleman and what of "pocket rocket" ShelleyAnn Fraser-Pryce? Regarding Boy Wonder Ekevwo perhaps the world championships came too soon after his All Africa Games triumph. We can hope he gets himself ready for Olympics next year.

Litmus:


Ekevowo is out, came fifth, in a disappointing 10.20. Athletes on both flanks at the starting line dwarfed our man. I have no confidence in the long-term prospects of short athletes, especially in Men’s 100 mitres and the jumps –long, triple and high.

GenBuhari:
Not many are shorter than Christian Coleman and what of "pocket rocket" ShelleyAnn Fraser-Pryce? Regarding Boy Wonder Ekevwo perhaps the world championships came too soon after his All Africa Games triumph. We can hope he gets himself ready for Olympics next year.

+


Colman looked much taller than Ekevwo. Actually, in the final line up Gatlin did not seem that much taller than Colman. Shirley Ann is female. I did not include women in my estimating and yet, here too, I believe Okabere had the potential to post faster times than Shelly Anne, aided and abetted by her height. I don’t believe Okabere fulfilled her potential.

I suspect that for women’s 100m times, the ceiling is probably nearer to the capability of men than we are currently witnessing; consequently, scope for improvement is greatest here. Nations like Nigeria could concentrate on women’s 100m. In addition, as a means of breaking through the gender psychological barrier, while training these women, they should be made to feel that, biologically, they have the physical acquirement to compete with men.

championships help you earn money and as a Naija girl she will continue until she can no longer make the team .

Litmus:


Kind and considerate words on your part, by the way; however, some points you made solicit the question, why does she keep going to these championships, incurring expenses and in place of others that could do with the chance perhaps.

Yesterday it was reported by athletics federation of Nigeria, that both Divine Oduduru and Blessing Okagbare-Ighoteguonor are injury free and have decided to concentrate in their respective 200m events.
This morning we learn that Oduduru has been disqualified from participating in the 200m for failing to participate in the 100m in accordance with regulations.
The same fate would like be Okagbare-Ighoteguonor's.

Are there no officials in the Nigerian team keeping abreast of regulations and advising our athletes?

GenBuhari:
Yesterday it was reported by athletics federation of Nigeria, that both Divine Oduduru and Blessing Okagbare-Ighoteguonor are injury free and have decided to concentrate in their respective 200m events.
This morning we learn that Oduduru has been disqualified from participating in the 200m for failing to participate in the 100m in accordance with regulations.
The same fate would like be Okagbare-Ighoteguonor's.

Are there no officials in the Nigerian team keeping abreast of regulations and advising our athletes?

During the women' 100 preliminary rounds, Colin Jackson (former UK hurdler and world record holder) remarking on Blessing’s absence, added that Blessing risked disqualification in the remainder of the events she was registered to participate in such as the 200m and long jump. Colin spoke as if these were relatively recent IAAF rules. In relation to Nigeria officials, I feel that seasoned and experienced athletes such as Blessing that have participated in many international championships, mixed with top athletes and received training from Nigeria, US al the way to Jamaica, ought to be more aware of her surroundings. Indeed, in some areas and occasions, Officials should be able to count on the advice of their more senior athletes’ just as these athletes count on the facilitations of the officials. Senior athletes are not sometime made captain of the team for nothing.

Dey have appealed d decision

Oduduru has been re-instated . He will be running in heat 1. I really don't expect much from him till d Olympics next yr .... D decision is more likely to favour Okagbare, who can get d bronze

Oduduru finished fourth in his heat with 20.40sec and only qualifies for the semis as one of the fastest losers. Let's hope he can find something special to make through the semis tomorrow.

Okagbare was disqualified after placing fourth in her heat, with a time that would have been good enough for a place in the semi final. With Schippers, Ta Lou, Uibo, ShellyAnne out, Okagbare with the third fastest time in the world had a shot at a medal.

like I stated, Okagbare always disappoints.

In reaction to the disqualification and Okabare's lacklustre display (which at the end of the race Okabare seemed to want to pass off as hamstring niggle) Michael Johnson made allusion to Okabare being unhappy with Nigerian officialdom issues. Now while Michael Johnson went on to imply frustrations on Okabere’s part and such influencing her psychological state, it just seems rather to me that Okabare sulks. It’s as if she sulked all throughout her career.

Women 400m semi finals
Both of Nigeria' s hopefuls out.

Men's 200m final about to take place soon.
Unfortunately Divine Oduduru did not make the final finish 8th in his semi final heat in 20.80

Hot favourite for 200m title 23yr old Dina Asher-Smith (UK) congrats her USA competitor Dezerea Bryant after winning the last semi final heat this evening.

Men''s Shot Put
Chukwuebukka Enekwechi has just muscled his way his way into the finals with a qualifying put of 20.94m

Ebelechukwu Agbapuonwu, wins epic Women's 400m 48.14 sec (3rd fastest time ever)

She is a former Nigerian youth champion now representing Bahrain as Salwa Eid-Naser.

Chukwuebuka Enekwechi goes in Men's Shot Putt final tonight.
if he improve his personal best beyond 22m there may be a medal to grab .

Wait , is Blessing competing in the long jump?

If so we may increase our chances of medal

Litmus:



During the women' 100 preliminary rounds, Colin Jackson (former UK hurdler and world record holder) remarking on Blessing’s absence, added that Blessing risked disqualification in the remainder of the events she was registered to participate in such as the 200m and long jump. Colin spoke as if these were relatively recent IAAF rules. In relation to Nigeria officials, I feel that seasoned and experienced athletes such as Blessing that have participated in many international championships, mixed with top athletes and received training from Nigeria, US al the way to Jamaica, ought to be more aware of her surroundings. Indeed, in some areas and occasions, Officials should be able to count on the advice of their more senior athletes’ just as these athletes count on the facilitations of the officials. Senior athletes are not sometime made captain of the team for nothing.

Tobi Amusan is racing at this moment in women's 100m hurdles heats

Ese Brume is taking part in the Women's Long Jump qualification.

Our girls are also taking part in the Women's 4 X 400m relay qualification heats a little later.

Women's 100m hurdles: Brianna McNeal the Olympic champion has be disqualified in heat 2 presumably for a false start.

Women's 100m hurdles: Danielle Williams (JAM) the hot favourite has just won heat3 comfortably in 12.51sec

Kendra Harrison, Word Record holder has won heat4 of Women's 100m hurdles in 12.55sec