Nigeria’s hope for a medal at the 2015 IAAF World Championship in Beijing, China dwindles after the country’s only medal hope failed to deliver in the women’s 100m on Monday.
Blessing Okagbare – Ighoteguonor, who’s the African and Commonwealth 100m champion, came last in a loaded women’s 100m final won for the third consecutive championships by Jamaican Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce in 10.76 secs.
Okagbare had earlier in the evening ran a conservative 10.89 secs, 0.15 clear of Ivory Coast’s Marie-Josee Ta Lou, third with a PB of 11.04, to advance to the final. But when it mattered most, she choked and finished in the eight position in a time of 11.02 secs.
Dutchwoman Dafne Schippers set a national record of 10.81 secs in to take the silver medal while American Tori Bowie took the bronze medal in 10.86 secs.
Veteran Veronica Campbell-Brown was fourth in 10.98 secs while Trinidad and Tobago duo of Michelle-Lee Ahye and Kelly-Ann Baptiste settled for the fifth and sixth positions in 10.98 and 11.01 secs respectively.
Patience Okon George of Nigeria competes in the Women’s 400 metres heats during day three of the 15th IAAF World Athletics Championships Beijing 2015 at Beijing National Stadium on August 24, 2015 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images for IAAF)
George advances in 400m
Meanwhile, Patience Okon George has qualified automatically for the women’s 400m Semi-Finals.
Okon George finished third in Heat 5 in a fast 50.87 secs behind Bianca Razor of Romania, who clocked personal best of 50.37, and Shericha Jackson of Jamaica, who was second in 50.41.
She has been drawn in Lane 8 in the second Heat of the Semi-Finals tomorrow at 12.12pm Nigerian time.