Nigerian sprinters show class in heats

| Friday July 30, 2010 00:00

Unheralded Agnes Osazuwa eclipsed her much-famous compatriots Blessing Okagbare and Damola Osayemi to set the fastest time in qualifying in the women's heats.

The 23-year-old Osazuwa, a member of Nigeria's Olympic bronze-medal winning relay team in Beijing timed 11.51 in winning the fourth heat, beating veteran Cameroonian Charlotte Mebenga into second place. Gabon's Perennes Pau Milama was the second fastest qualifier in a time of 11.56 while Okagbare (11.56) and Osayemi (11.60) both won their respective heats to reach yesterday's semi-finals.

Nigerian men's champion Obinna Metu ran the fastest time of 10.37, leading Seoud Mostafa of Egypt to set his personal best time 10.43 in second place. Ivorian Serge Koffi, who was third, also hit the qualifying time.

Kenyan champion Kipkemboi Soy surprised the strong field by leading from the start to the finish to win in a personal best time of 10.66, ahead of Simon Mgakwe of South Africa and Devin Uri-Khob of Namibia who was third. The five-day championships was opened by Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki in a colourful ceremony in a packed Nyayo National Stadium, but around two-thirds of the crowd were school children who were given the day off.

There was a heavy security presence in and outside the stadium after deadly bombings in neighbouring Uganda.Police with dogs and anti-riot police in heavy gear kept a close watch, while spectators and athletes were searched before entering the venue.

Meanwhile, veteran Burger Lambrechts led a South African clean sweep in the men's shot put final on Wednesday, to place the nation top of the medals table after day one of the African Athletics Championships.

Lambrechts, 37, regained the title he won in Dakar in 1998 with a best effort of 18.63m to narrowly edge countryman Rolf Potgieter who was a centimetre short with a heave of 18.62m.

Orazio Cremona, 21, placed third with a best of 18.27m to give South Africa three medals and the lead on the table as they look to finish in top spot for the fifth continental championships in succession.

Hosts Kenya are a close second after only two finals on the opening day, with Wilson Kiprop winning the men's 10 000m in 27:32.91.

Geoffrey Mutai placed third in 27:33.83 in a sprint finish to give Kenya a gold and a bronze medal, while Uganda's Moses Kipsiro secured the silver in the longest men's track event. (Supersport)