Nigeria grabs gold in relay - African Athletics Championship - As Osayomi anchors team to victory

04.05.2008

Ecstasy: Manchester United’s captain, Rio
Ferdinand (left) celebrates with teammates,
Cristiano Ronaldo and Owen Hargreaves
(right) during the team’s 4-1 win over West
Ham yesterday at Old Trafford.
Photo: The Sun. NIGERIA’S blushes at the African Athletics Championship in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia were wiped out at the close of events Friday, when the female 4x100 metres relay team grabbed gold.

Endurance Ojokolo led the quartet out of the blocks, then handed the baton to Gloria Kemasuode, who passed it on to Susan Akene, before the championship’s female 100 metres winner on Thursday, Damola Osayomi anchored the flourish in a time of 43.79 seconds.

It was a heartwarming race for Nigerian track and field lovers, as the female quartet’s gold medal brought an end to a day of falling short, as Folashade Abugan had earlier failed to retain the female 400 metres title, after settling for silver in a time of 50.89 seconds.
It was sad news also for the male 4x100 metres relay team, as the quartet of Deji Aliu, Uchenna

Emedolu, Obinna Metu and Adetoye Durotoye failed to finish their race. Earlier, male 400 metres hope, Godday James failed to live up to his pre-tournament hype, as he fell short in third place in a time of 45.77 seconds behind athletes from Sudan and Botswana.