West African news and reports
The inability of Nigeria to win more medals in the Olympic Games and World Championships in recent years is a source of worry to an influential member of the Confederation of Africa Athletics (CAA).
The African Region Two Track and Field Championships, which holds this weekend in Makurdi, will be keenly contested following a record entry by nine West African countries.
Nigeria's and UTEP's Blessing Okagbare concluded her illustrious collegiate career with a double win in the sprints and women long jump at the 2010 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Historic Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
The 2006 Commonwealth Triple Jump silver medallist, Otonye Iworima, has painted a gory picture of the state of facilities with which Nigerian athletes are compelled to train ahead of the Commonwealth Games slated for India in October.
Despite the popularity enjoyed by football and the unprecedented media hype accorded the first ever World Cup on African soil, the All Nigeria, NNPC, Mobil Track and Field Championship holding in Calabar, Cross River State from June 24 to 26 will live up to expectations says Paul Bassey.
Ogho-Oghene Egwero 100m triumph and Margaret Etim's successive 200m and 400m victories were the highlights of the 5th Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) Golden League meeting at the Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri, Imo State last weekend.
Ghana's youth triple jumper, Nyamedi Atsu won the only Gold medal for Ghana at the Zone 2 Africa Youth Olympic Qualifier in Dakar, Senegal.
Nigeria's Blessing Okagbare has secured her spot at NCAA Championships after qualifying automatically in her two events on day 2 of the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships West Preliminary yesterday in Austin, Texas.
Margaret Etim of Ondo State's 51.24 secs 400m win over Josephine Ehigie of the Police (51.80secs) was the main highlight of the 4th AFN Golden League meet this weekend at the Aper Aku Stadium in Makurdi, Benue State Nigeria.
The 2010 National Athletics Championship kicked off at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi on Friday with the Ashanti Region putting up a splendid performance to claim honours in the Under-17 and Under-19 categories of the competition.