AFN/Solid Works Golden League : ...Abogunloko’s Absence Throws Sprint Title Open

The second leg of the 2013 AFN/Solid Works Golden League promises some exciting moments tomorrow when athletes file out for their events at the University of Benin Sports complex in Ugbowo, Benin City.

At the first leg in Sagamu a fortnight ago, most athletes who were starting their outdoor season were a little bit lethargic, resulting in poor results in most of the event. But that may not be the case on Saturday as  most of them have realized that high point scoring was important for them to win the prize money at stake.

“Most of the athletes were not too happy that they did not win the usual prizes at stake in the Golden League series. But now that they have been briefed on the need to improve their performances, we are bound to witness some really exciting moments at the Uniben Sports Complex on Saturday,” observed the Technical Director of the AFN, Navy Commodore Omatseye Nesiama.

The women sprint promises to throw up a new winner in the absence of quarter miler, Bukola Abogunloko who stepped down to boost her speed in the longer sprint but is away in the United States of America to feature in the Penn Relays slated for this weekend. She won the 200m in Sagamu.

But in her absence, the duo of Patience Okon (NSCDC) and Cross River State sprinter, Peace Uko would have to battle for the top prize. Okon (23.45) picked the silver in Sagamu while Uko settled for the bronze in 23.94secs.

In the long distance races, Nigeria’s contingent to the maiden Okpekpe 10km International Road Race who have been in camp in Abuja in the last fortnight are bound to produce some improved results in the 5,000m and 10,000m events.

The duo of Deborah Pam and Janet Dung (NSCDC) will try to outrun National Sports Festival revelation, Aminat Olowora of Lagos State in the 5,000m, just the way they did in the first leg in Sagamu.

In the men’s 10,000m, Nigeria’s hopes of challenging the East Africans in the Okpekpe road race, Emmanuel Gyang and Kefas Williams need this event as dress rehearsal. A good outing here in Benin is what will gladden the heart of National Long Distance Coach, Nuhu Stephens that his effort in the last three weeks on the athletes was not a waste of time and resources.

Some of the events listed to hold in the Benin leg include; 100m/200m, 800m, 5000m, 100m Hurdles, triple Jump, Shot Put, Discus, 4x100m Relay, 4x400m Relay and 20km Race Walking.

There will be an All Comers category in the Women 400m, Long Jump and Javelin.

Golden League events for men include; 100m/200m, 800m, 10, 000M 400M Hurdles, Long Jump, Javelin, Hammer, 4x100m Relay and 4x400m Relay.

AFN/Solid Works Limited Golden League: Benin City Welcomes Egwero, Others

Benin, the Capital City of Edo state will this weekend welcome Nigeria athletes to the second leg of the five leg in the 2013 Athletics Federation of Nigeria/Solid Works Limited Golden League which will hold in the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium this Saturday.

Scheduled to compete in Benin in the second leg is Nigeria’s frontline male sprinter Ogho-Oghene Egwero will be competing for the first time in the 2013 AFN golden League 100m event in Benin, event which was not included In the first leg when the golden league started in Shagamu two weeks ago. Also in for the Benin Meet are Issa Salihu, Chinazom Amadi, Margaret Etim amongst others.

Egwero who ran the 4x100m relay for Delta State at Shagamu said he could not compete because his event was not listed on the schedule.
“I came to Shagamu to run but my event (100m) was not listed, so I had to run the relay and I was happy we won it. Benin would be another race I won’t like to miss; I learnt the 100m event is listed.

The Women’s long jump event, though not in the Golden League is another must watch event. Competing for the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corp female long jumper Chinazom Amadi who leaped a distance of 6.17m at Shagamu said Benin would be different.
“My performance at Shagamu was not good; I hope to jump better in Benin this weekend.
“Reasons for not jumping well were the absence of the landing board, couple with the fact that long jump was the last event, everyone was hurrying out of the stadium. It had an impact on some of us. I believe they would provide the landing board in Benin and fans would be on hand to support us as we compete,” Amadi said.

Most athletes have also commended AFN for slightly reviewing their stance on monetary rewards for winners. At Shagamu, there were no cash prizes for winners except they met set standards for their events but the AFN had promised to reconsider the decision and provide cash prizes for top four athletes as subsidy to enable them accommodate and feed themselves in Benin.

The second leg of the 2013 AFN/Solid Works Limited Golden League will take place this Saturday, 27th April at the the University of Benin, in Benin City, Edo State.

No Going Back On Golden League Standard -Ogba

President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Evangelist Solomon Ogba in this interview with okenaijaathletics at the 2013 AFN/Solid Works Limited Golden League first leg in Shagamu, Ogun State insists the standard set by the AFN remains… 

How will you rate the first leg of the 2013 AFN/Solid Works Golden League in Shagamu?

Being the first outdoor race for the athletes this season, I will say that some of the times ran by the athletes are okay, but some are not impressive especially from some of the athletes we are expecting to be doing better than now. That is the more reason why we have to select the few and put them in the national programme. We have seen now that individually, what they have done with their coaches will not take us where we should be.
The first four among the key events we are trying to target will move into the camp in the High Performance Center in Port Harcourt alongside with the athletes for the Youth Championship.
A situation where a female athlete returned 52.81secs in the 400m is not too fantastic but being her first race of the season, I considered it encouraging. That means she can run 50secs within a short period, though, we have not developed to a stage we can say we want to win the 400m at the Worlds. But we want a situation where we can put together four or five athletes who can run average of 50 or 51secs, if we can do that, we are going to be in top three in the world.

What prompted the changes made to the AFN 2013 program especially the Golden League was changed from its traditional six legs to five legs? 

We reduced the AFN Golden League from six legs to five, which we have done with the revised calendar and if you look at the cities we have picked, it’s just that we cannot find good tartan tracks and also hostel facilities in the South Eastern part of Nigeria. We are trying to go to the traditional areas of athletics; we are going to Benin, Ilorin, Port Harcourt and Warri just to re-awaken the sports.
Like they say, change is the only thing that is constant. The adjustment was made because we want the national trials to be at the same time with the US trials. It’s good to do that because you must learn from the experts, we are struggling to be like them, so if you want to be like them you must do what they are doing. In the last three years we have been doing the same thing with them.

What would be the fate of junior athletes that participated in the National School Sports Festival, they were so good and they were not at the Africa Youth Athletic Championships in Warri?

What happened in the national under-18 was that we took the results of the schools sports, most of them whose performance were better than that of the Under 18, they would be invited to the U-18 camp, and those whose performance were not good enough were not invited. We have a pool now and we want to create four under-age camps when they are on holiday, because when they are in school you cannot really run a long programme for them. We don’t want to stop the education of any child, those athletes are going to form part of our holiday camping programme. 

Athletes agitated over lack of monetary rewards after winning their events in Shagamu, was it intentional on the part of AFN?

The athletes were wrong in thinking and believing that after winning their events there would be money waiting for them.
AFN have standards for each event which athletes are aware of and failure to meet the standard means there is no money for them, it’s done everywhere. Even at that, I have directed that the first four in each event should be given monetary rewards just to assist them in transporting themselves and feeding, but AFN standard still stands. 

No Going Back On Golden League Standard -Ogba

President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Evangelist Solomon Ogba in this interview with okenaijaathletics at the 2013 AFN/Solid Works Limited Golden League first leg in Shagamu, Ogun State insists the standard set by the AFN remains… 

How will you rate the first leg of the 2013 AFN/Solid Works Golden League in Shagamu?

Being the first outdoor race for the athletes this season, I will say that some of the times ran by the athletes are okay, but some are not impressive especially from some of the athletes we are expecting to be doing better than now. That is the more reason why we have to select the few and put them in the national programme. We have seen now that individually, what they have done with their coaches will not take us where we should be.
The first four among the key events we are trying to target will move into the camp in the High Performance Center in Port Harcourt alongside with the athletes for the Youth Championship.
A situation where a female athlete returned 52.81secs in the 400m is not too fantastic but being her first race of the season, I considered it encouraging. That means she can run 50secs within a short period, though, we have not developed to a stage we can say we want to win the 400m at the Worlds. But we want a situation where we can put together four or five athletes who can run average of 50 or 51secs, if we can do that, we are going to be in top three in the world.

What prompted the changes made to the AFN 2013 program especially the Golden League was changed from its traditional six legs to five legs? 

We reduced the AFN Golden League from six legs to five, which we have done with the revised calendar and if you look at the cities we have picked, it’s just that we cannot find good tartan tracks and also hostel facilities in the South Eastern part of Nigeria. We are trying to go to the traditional areas of athletics; we are going to Benin, Ilorin, Port Harcourt and Warri just to re-awaken the sports.
Like they say, change is the only thing that is constant. The adjustment was made because we want the national trials to be at the same time with the US trials. It’s good to do that because you must learn from the experts, we are struggling to be like them, so if you want to be like them you must do what they are doing. In the last three years we have been doing the same thing with them.

What would be the fate of junior athletes that participated in the National School Sports Festival, they were so good and they were not at the Africa Youth Athletic Championships in Warri?

What happened in the national under-18 was that we took the results of the schools sports, most of them whose performance were better than that of the Under 18, they would be invited to the U-18 camp, and those whose performance were not good enough were not invited. We have a pool now and we want to create four under-age camps when they are on holiday, because when they are in school you cannot really run a long programme for them. We don’t want to stop the education of any child, those athletes are going to form part of our holiday camping programme. 

Athletes agitated over lack of monetary rewards after winning their events in Shagamu, was it intentional on the part of AFN?

The athletes were wrong in thinking and believing that after winning their events there would be money waiting for them.
AFN have standards for each event which athletes are aware of and failure to meet the standard means there is no money for them, it’s done everywhere. Even at that, I have directed that the first four in each event should be given monetary rewards just to assist them in transporting themselves and feeding, but AFN standard still stands. 

IAAF to open blood test centre in Kenya

The world athletics governing body, IAAF, will open a blood test centre, BTC, in Kenya’s Rift Valley town of Eldoret to cater for Kenyan and Ethiopian runners.

IAAF are also seeking to collaborate with World Anti-Doping Agency, WADA, to establish a laboratory to test samples collected in the region either in Nairobi or Eldoret, Athletics Kenya, AK, boss, Isaiah Kiplagat, said on Thursday.

“In the next three months, we expect progress to have been made on the proposed BTC. IAAF came up with the idea after extensive discussions about the seriousness of doping cases in this country,” he said.

“Currently, all samples collected here are sent to South Africa or Germany for analysis and having a lab here will keep us ahead in our fight to ensure that our athletes are clean,” the chair added.

The development comes hot on the heels of the Kenyan federation revealing that five runners had been sanctioned for various doping offences in the past two months.

“The matter has received a lot of attention at the IOC, WADA and IAAF. From the BTC, we shall have biological passports for every athlete in Kenya and Ethiopia,” Kiplagat said.

Biological passports monitor changes in the blood system and have been turned to in the global effort to identify cheats with high profile bursts such as the disgraced 2008 Beijing Olympics men’s 1,500m champion, Bahrain’s Rashid Ramzy, among those who have been unearthed by comparing samples collected in different seasons.

Kiplagat slammed the Kenyan Government for failing to get off the committee set up in January to investigate allegations of rampant doping amongst the country’s runners.

“WADA have sent many emails to the Government and copied to us asking what is happening and we raised the issue two months ago and the Sports Commissioner said they had already allocated (approximately $43,178) to the commission.’’

“We do not know why they are not working up to now but we can only wait since WADA only contracts the Government, not federations,” he said.

Wilson Erupe Loyanae and Nixon Kiplagat Cherutich are serving a suspension of two years each with Moses Kiptoo Kurgat being sanctioned for a year after Athletics Kenya announced in February that both their A and B samples tested positive to banned substances.

Loyanae tested positive for EPO, or erythropoietin, in an out-of-competition test conducted last year, the first Kenyan athlete to be caught using the banned drug hormone which increases the red blood cell count.

Nixon Kiplagat Cherutich tested positive to the anabolic steroid, Nandrolone, after competing in a race in Mexico.

On March 20, Salome Jerono Biwott who won the women’s race at the 2012 Stanchart Nairobi International Marathon in 2:26:41 and Jynocel Basweti Onyancha who took part in the 23rd Marathon International De Cullacan in Mexico on January are serving two-year ban each after being added to the doping list of shame.

IAAF to open blood test centre in Kenya

The world athletics governing body, IAAF, will open a blood test centre, BTC, in Kenya’s Rift Valley town of Eldoret to cater for Kenyan and Ethiopian runners.

IAAF are also seeking to collaborate with World Anti-Doping Agency, WADA, to establish a laboratory to test samples collected in the region either in Nairobi or Eldoret, Athletics Kenya, AK, boss, Isaiah Kiplagat, said on Thursday.

“In the next three months, we expect progress to have been made on the proposed BTC. IAAF came up with the idea after extensive discussions about the seriousness of doping cases in this country,” he said.

“Currently, all samples collected here are sent to South Africa or Germany for analysis and having a lab here will keep us ahead in our fight to ensure that our athletes are clean,” the chair added.

The development comes hot on the heels of the Kenyan federation revealing that five runners had been sanctioned for various doping offences in the past two months.

“The matter has received a lot of attention at the IOC, WADA and IAAF. From the BTC, we shall have biological passports for every athlete in Kenya and Ethiopia,” Kiplagat said.

Biological passports monitor changes in the blood system and have been turned to in the global effort to identify cheats with high profile bursts such as the disgraced 2008 Beijing Olympics men’s 1,500m champion, Bahrain’s Rashid Ramzy, among those who have been unearthed by comparing samples collected in different seasons.

Kiplagat slammed the Kenyan Government for failing to get off the committee set up in January to investigate allegations of rampant doping amongst the country’s runners.

“WADA have sent many emails to the Government and copied to us asking what is happening and we raised the issue two months ago and the Sports Commissioner said they had already allocated (approximately $43,178) to the commission.’’

“We do not know why they are not working up to now but we can only wait since WADA only contracts the Government, not federations,” he said.

Wilson Erupe Loyanae and Nixon Kiplagat Cherutich are serving a suspension of two years each with Moses Kiptoo Kurgat being sanctioned for a year after Athletics Kenya announced in February that both their A and B samples tested positive to banned substances.

Loyanae tested positive for EPO, or erythropoietin, in an out-of-competition test conducted last year, the first Kenyan athlete to be caught using the banned drug hormone which increases the red blood cell count.

Nixon Kiplagat Cherutich tested positive to the anabolic steroid, Nandrolone, after competing in a race in Mexico.

On March 20, Salome Jerono Biwott who won the women’s race at the 2012 Stanchart Nairobi International Marathon in 2:26:41 and Jynocel Basweti Onyancha who took part in the 23rd Marathon International De Cullacan in Mexico on January are serving two-year ban each after being added to the doping list of shame.

IAAF to open blood test centre in Kenya

The world athletics governing body, IAAF, will open a blood test centre, BTC, in Kenya’s Rift Valley town of Eldoret to cater for Kenyan and Ethiopian runners.

IAAF are also seeking to collaborate with World Anti-Doping Agency, WADA, to establish a laboratory to test samples collected in the region either in Nairobi or Eldoret, Athletics Kenya, AK, boss, Isaiah Kiplagat, said on Thursday.

“In the next three months, we expect progress to have been made on the proposed BTC. IAAF came up with the idea after extensive discussions about the seriousness of doping cases in this country,” he said.

“Currently, all samples collected here are sent to South Africa or Germany for analysis and having a lab here will keep us ahead in our fight to ensure that our athletes are clean,” the chair added.

The development comes hot on the heels of the Kenyan federation revealing that five runners had been sanctioned for various doping offences in the past two months.

“The matter has received a lot of attention at the IOC, WADA and IAAF. From the BTC, we shall have biological passports for every athlete in Kenya and Ethiopia,” Kiplagat said.

Biological passports monitor changes in the blood system and have been turned to in the global effort to identify cheats with high profile bursts such as the disgraced 2008 Beijing Olympics men’s 1,500m champion, Bahrain’s Rashid Ramzy, among those who have been unearthed by comparing samples collected in different seasons.

Kiplagat slammed the Kenyan Government for failing to get off the committee set up in January to investigate allegations of rampant doping amongst the country’s runners.

“WADA have sent many emails to the Government and copied to us asking what is happening and we raised the issue two months ago and the Sports Commissioner said they had already allocated (approximately $43,178) to the commission.’’

“We do not know why they are not working up to now but we can only wait since WADA only contracts the Government, not federations,” he said.

Wilson Erupe Loyanae and Nixon Kiplagat Cherutich are serving a suspension of two years each with Moses Kiptoo Kurgat being sanctioned for a year after Athletics Kenya announced in February that both their A and B samples tested positive to banned substances.

Loyanae tested positive for EPO, or erythropoietin, in an out-of-competition test conducted last year, the first Kenyan athlete to be caught using the banned drug hormone which increases the red blood cell count.

Nixon Kiplagat Cherutich tested positive to the anabolic steroid, Nandrolone, after competing in a race in Mexico.

On March 20, Salome Jerono Biwott who won the women’s race at the 2012 Stanchart Nairobi International Marathon in 2:26:41 and Jynocel Basweti Onyancha who took part in the 23rd Marathon International De Cullacan in Mexico on January are serving two-year ban each after being added to the doping list of shame.

IAAF to open blood test centre in Kenya

The world athletics governing body, IAAF, will open a blood test centre, BTC, in Kenya’s Rift Valley town of Eldoret to cater for Kenyan and Ethiopian runners.

IAAF are also seeking to collaborate with World Anti-Doping Agency, WADA, to establish a laboratory to test samples collected in the region either in Nairobi or Eldoret, Athletics Kenya, AK, boss, Isaiah Kiplagat, said on Thursday.

“In the next three months, we expect progress to have been made on the proposed BTC. IAAF came up with the idea after extensive discussions about the seriousness of doping cases in this country,” he said.

“Currently, all samples collected here are sent to South Africa or Germany for analysis and having a lab here will keep us ahead in our fight to ensure that our athletes are clean,” the chair added.

The development comes hot on the heels of the Kenyan federation revealing that five runners had been sanctioned for various doping offences in the past two months.

“The matter has received a lot of attention at the IOC, WADA and IAAF. From the BTC, we shall have biological passports for every athlete in Kenya and Ethiopia,” Kiplagat said.

Biological passports monitor changes in the blood system and have been turned to in the global effort to identify cheats with high profile bursts such as the disgraced 2008 Beijing Olympics men’s 1,500m champion, Bahrain’s Rashid Ramzy, among those who have been unearthed by comparing samples collected in different seasons.

Kiplagat slammed the Kenyan Government for failing to get off the committee set up in January to investigate allegations of rampant doping amongst the country’s runners.

“WADA have sent many emails to the Government and copied to us asking what is happening and we raised the issue two months ago and the Sports Commissioner said they had already allocated (approximately $43,178) to the commission.’’

“We do not know why they are not working up to now but we can only wait since WADA only contracts the Government, not federations,” he said.

Wilson Erupe Loyanae and Nixon Kiplagat Cherutich are serving a suspension of two years each with Moses Kiptoo Kurgat being sanctioned for a year after Athletics Kenya announced in February that both their A and B samples tested positive to banned substances.

Loyanae tested positive for EPO, or erythropoietin, in an out-of-competition test conducted last year, the first Kenyan athlete to be caught using the banned drug hormone which increases the red blood cell count.

Nixon Kiplagat Cherutich tested positive to the anabolic steroid, Nandrolone, after competing in a race in Mexico.

On March 20, Salome Jerono Biwott who won the women’s race at the 2012 Stanchart Nairobi International Marathon in 2:26:41 and Jynocel Basweti Onyancha who took part in the 23rd Marathon International De Cullacan in Mexico on January are serving two-year ban each after being added to the doping list of shame.

Okagbare Shine At Mt Sac Meeting

..As Akwu Gets Season Best In 200m

Nigeria’s 100m female champion and London 2012 Olympic finalist, Blessing Okagbare started her 2013 athletics season in good form as she posted the women’s best 200m time of 2013 when she won the 200m race with her finish time of 22.31 (wind +1.3m/sec) at the 55th Annual Mount SAC Relays on Saturday in Los Angeles, California.

Okagbare, who is a Nike ambassador at the elite invitation race, saw fellow Nike representative, Candyce McGrone running behind to take the second position with a time of 22.85 (wind + 1.3/sec) and Natasha Hastings takes the third position with her 22.90secs time.

The Delta born athletes also ran in the 4x100m women relay where she won it with Carmelita Jeter, Lauryn Williams and Mandy White with their 41.79secs time. It would be recalled that at the 54th edition of the relays last year, Okagbare also ran a new 22.70 personal best in the 200m to place second behind Leslie Cole (22.63).

Similarly, Noah Akwu came second in the men's 200 meter dash at the Vanderbilt Invitational in Middle Tennessee cruising to a season best time of 21.04, before following it up with a 10.69 100-meter dash time where he also finishing second at the weekend.

He however, earned his share of a title with the men's 4x100 meter relay team. The foursome of Akwu, Demetrius Shelton, Tahir Walsh and Rycine Ellison raced around the track in 41.14 to win the race.

Okpekpe Race: LOC Awaits Olympic Champion, Tirunesh Dibaba

Organizers of the Okpekpe 10km International Road Race are awaiting the response of  London  Olympic women's 10,000m winner, Ethiopian Tirunesh Dibaba, to participate in the maiden event.

Technical Coordinator of the Race, Yusuf Alli said that he was in touch with the manager of the Ethiopian double Olympic champion.

Okpepke Race Excites AFN Boss, Ogba

...As Itemuagbo Confirms Adidas Participation

President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, Evangelist Solomon Ogba has expressed excitement on the first edition of the Okpekpe 10km International Road Race coming up on the 4th of May in Okpekpe, Edo State.

He made this declaration when the LOC paid a courtesy visit to Governor, Adams Oshiomhole in Benin City, capital of Edo state. Ogba observed that Okpekpe presents a unique venue for the tourney revealing that eight African countries have sent in their entries for the race.

“I am excited and happy to be part of the Okpekpe 10km International Road Race and with races like these, Nigeria roads will be in good shape.

“The race will be a success because as at now, we have eight African countries that have sent in their entries and before the closing date for entries. I believe we shall be having more countries willing to participate in the race in Okpekpe village that presents a unique venue for the tourney.”

Ogba, who solicited for land in Okpekpe to build a training camp where altitude tests for Nigerian athletes could be carried out, also appealed to Governor Adams Oshiomhole to give life to sport development in Edo State. He concluded that the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium will on the 27th of May; host the second edition of the AFN /Solid Works Limited Golden League.

However, initiator of the first Okpekpe International 10km Road Race, Special Adviser to the Edo Governor on Sports Matters, Chief Mike Itemuagbo told SportsDay that world renowned kitting firm, Adidas is identifying with the concept of the race adding that the company will be represented on May 4th while saying, they will come out in full to support hopefully in the next edition.

The Okpekpe Road Race, a first of its kind in Nigeria, is a long distance race of 10 kilometers over hills and sandy path, which will be flagged off by an official of the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) and which will attract over 3,000 local and international road runners.

Nigeria AYAC Athletes Tasks Sports Ministry

Nigeria youth athletes that participated in the first Africa Youth Athletics Championship (AYAC Warri 2013) has charged the Sports Ministry and the National Sports Commission to take as a point of duty to keep to their words and make sure the talents gotten during the competition were not forgotten in terms of nurturing.

Some of the athletes who don’t want their names in print said the altitude of the sports ministry and NSC forgetting track and field athletes’ is bad as the sport have brought glory to the country even when the sport they (NSC) always make money available for has failed the country.

A Lagos based female athlete who was among the Team Nigeria AYAC winning athletes while soliciting for camping exercise for the athletes from the AYAC team with great tutoring in track and field.

She further stressed that she was not used to running with Estimated Distance Measurement (EDM) machine while giving kudos to AFN President kudos for the AYAC 2013 which exposed the youth athletes to mechanical devices used in Warri for the championship.

 “Time is going and it will be bad if the Sports Ministry and NSC don’t take any action to camp or start any program for us Africa champions.
“If you look at the team, we are all very young and it won’t be out of place to start early because the Olympics and other championships are coming. So now is the time.
“The AFN cannot do it alone. The sports Ministry and NSC should stand by Ogba because if not for him, I doubt if Nigeria will ever attend any athletics competition year in year out,” she added

Another athlete from Delta added that, “if not for the President of the AFN, I don’t think Nigeria wound have won the AYAC 2013 because it was the AFN Boss that made sure we are camped for the championship, I heard he even spent his money on that.
‘That is very bad because if it is football, there will be money made available for the camping.”

Meanwhile, an athletics coach who also pleaded anonymity added that; “In the situation whereby the Sports Minister said he don’t know if athletes go into camping for competitions is not good for Nigeria sports. Camping and preparations for competitions should not be for football alone, such generosity by the sports ministry and the NSC should also be extended to all sports federations in the country.”

AFN Reduces Golden League To Five Series

Athletics Federation of Nigeria has reduced the 2013 AFN/Solid Works Golden League competition from its traditional six legs to five.

According to AFN Technical Officer and national long jump record holder, Yusuf Ali, the changes became necessary holding to the fact that 2013 is World Championship year for athletics. He said with the loaded program of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria this year, cutting it to five became necessary.

 “Yes we use to have six legs but we decided to reduce it to five so as to have enough time to prepare for the national trials in June and also to move into camping for the World championship in August.”
“Events in our programme this year are many and we don’t want anything that will disturb our preparation for the world championship in August. We looked into it and decided to reduce it.”

It would be recall that the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, during the first leg of the golden league in Shagamu, Ogun state, announced the reduction of the six leg competition to five with venues also affected by the changers. The second leg which was schedule to hold in Enugu on 27th of April, will now take place in Benin on same date.

After Benin, the golden league train will move to Ilorin for the third leg on the 11th of May while Port Harcourt will host the fourth leg on 25th May. The 2013 AFN/Solid Works Golden League final will be hosted in Warri on 8th June at the Warri City Stadium.

Gbagbeke Opens Season with Golden League Victory

National long jump champion, Stanley Gbagbeke, started his outdoor season ahead of the 2013 World Championships in Moscow with a 7.64m at the Athletics Federation of Nigeria Golden League in Sagamu on Saturday the 13^th April.

Although it was a far cry from his 8.20m personal best he posted at the All Nigeria Open in Calabar last year, the former Middle Tennessee State University long jumper believes it certainly is not a bad way to start the season.

“Not a bad result even though I looked forward to a better result from this first leg of the AFN Golden League here in Sagamu. By the time I do more jumps in the series, I should be in better shape before the World Championships trial in Calabar in June,” observed the Oginibo-born Delta athlete.

Toyin Oladimeji (7.62m) and Babajide Okulaja (7.37m) settled for the silver and bronze medals respectively.

In the women hammer, Queen Obisesan came close to equal the national record of 61.27m when she landed 61.03m in her final throw at the Gateway Stadium in Sagamu. The Christabel athlete hope to send the national record to the achieve in the next leg scheduled for April 27 in Benin City. Feyisayo Daramola (57.66m) of the NSCDC and Elizabeth Bello (38.11m) of Eagle Sight Track Club picked the silver and bronze.

National Sports Festival double gold medalist, Aminat Olowora (17.41.71) is fast on the heels of runners from the Plateau region as she placed third behind Deborah Pam (17.26.62) and Janet Dung (17.41.17) who won the gold and silver of the women’s 5,000m.

Olajide Abiola won the men’s triple jump event with an uninspiring 15.19m. George Jones (14.62) of Prisons Track Club and Sodipo Busayo (14.14m) of the ICDO highlighted the fallen standard of triple jumpers in the country. They were very far from the 17.22m of national champion in the event, Tosin Oke and the 17.23 m national record set by Ajayi Agbebaku in the mid 1980s.

NSCDC’s Augustin Nwoye got the better part of his pal, Kenechukwu Ezeofor of the Prisons Club to pick the gold medal. Nwoye heaved 47.87m while Ezeofor could only manage 46.98m for the silver. The consolatory bronze went to Osi Sunday Dari (46.02m).

Ex international and former Head Coach, Seigha Porbeni applauded the performance of athletes in the first leg of the golden league.

“I am excited by what I am seeing here. The turnout of athletes is good and of course, as the first leg of the golden league series, I do not expect any one who understands athletics to be looking for any meaningful outing here,” observed Porbeni.

He praised AFN President, Chief Solomon Ogba for bringing back how it used to be in the past. “We are getting back to what it used to be. Our athletes must constantly be kept busy and not allowed to waste,” he noted.

Meanwhile, the next leg of the AFN Golden League has been scheduled to hold in Benin City on April 27, one week before the Okpekpe International 10km Road Race.

Okpekpe 10km International Race: LOC Meets Governor Oshiomhole

The Local Organizing Committee of the Okpekpe 10km International Race is to meet the Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole Monday 15^th April at the Government House in Benin City.

Technical Director of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Navy Commodore Omatseye Nesiama, confirmed that the LOC would meet with the governor to brief him on the programme of the international race that is going to attract several top African athletes to the state.

“We will brief the comrade governor on the programme of the Okpekpe International 10km Race. We are also going to use the opportunity to finalize other matters regarding logistics for the race,” observed the AFN technical director.

A press briefing has also been scheduled to hold in Benin immediately after the meeting with the governor.

Meanwhile, National Long Distance Coach, Stephen Nuhu, has hinted that his wards will not allow the East Africans win the Okpekpe race without giving them a fight for the mouth-watering $25,000 at stake for the first position.

“Our camp is opens Monday 15^th April for the Okpekpe race. We opened the camp with 45 runners out of which we are going to pick the best 30 to challenge the foreign athletes coming to Nigeria for the race,” Coach Nuhu who was at the AFN Golden League in Sagamu revealed.

He promised that the Nigerian road runners were going to be availed the opportunities of training on the course for over a two-week period before the race on May 4.

AFN Tasks Senior Athletes

To get the best athletes with good finish time at the IAAF World championships coming up in August, senior athletes hoping to make the national trials in Calabar have been mandated by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria to make a set time in competitions from now till June before getting an invitation to the trials.

To this end, the AFN president, Evangelist Solomon Ogba has declared that gone are the days when all athletes come for the trials, while also stressing that every athlete interested in the competition should, up till June, make 10.20secs and 11.20secs for men and women respectively.

The former Delta State sports commissioner said setting huddles for athletes is a way of making the athletes put in their best while also adding that the federation doesn’t want to see athletes crashing out of events in the heat stages.

He gave the London 2012 Olympics as an example where, for the first time in Nigeria’s athletics history, the country had 11 semi-finals and five finalists at the Games, while stressing that it was made possible with hurdles of motivation set for the athletes.

 “There will be a standard to run at the national trials in Calabar this year because we don't want the situation where everybody can’t just come in.

 “To be invited for the trials, the men have to run 10.20secs while the women will have to make 11.20 to qualify to run in Calabar. Any athlete that don't make these time before the trials will not be invited for the trials this year.

“In the London 2012 Olympics, we had 11 semi-finalists and five finalists so we don’t want our athletes to go to the World Championships in Russia in August and come out in the heats so they have from January this year till June to make the time in competitions,” the AFN boss disclosed.

Ogba further added that when his board started some four years ago, the aim is to reposition Nigerian athletics and take it back to number one in Africa, as was achieved at the 2012 Africa Senior Athletics Championship in Porto Novo, Benin Republic; where the country took the first position after 10 years and the youth team won the inaugural youth version (AYAC) last month in Warri.

AFN technical director, Navy Commodore Omatseye Nesiama added that to achieve the goal, the senior athletes will be monitored everywhere in the world where they are in competitions, in order not to give room to those that did not make set standard for the trials.

“We shall be monitoring all senior athletes in every competitions they will partake in because we want the best for the trials and the best for the World champs in Russia in August,” Nesiama stated.

Okpekpe Road Race: Cash Boost For Winners, Says Itemuagbor

All is set as the inaugural edition of the Okpekpe International 10km Road Race debuts on May 4th in Okpekpe, Edo state.

According to the pioneer of the event, NFF marketing guru Mike Itemuagbor, Okpekpe road race is a product of good thinking by Edo state government in making good roads available that exposes the beautiful topography in the community for the world to admire.

He said athletes coming for the race will have the course to smile as there will be prizes ranging from US dollars for the elites while the local athletes will be paid in naira. Explaining the rational of the prize formula, the Special Adviser to the Edo State government on sports matters said; “There is no difference in the prize money, the Naira reward is for athletes within the community, people around the area, we want them to be part of the action, we have local champions everywhere who might not be professional athletes. But if somebody from my Okpekpe village wins the top prize ($25.000 dollars) so be it. What we are saying is this, if nobody from Okpekpe village was among the top eight, no problem, we have made a provision for them.”

However, Itemuagbor said the race will be continues as some partners are clamoring for about three road races. He also added that the tournament will be broadcast live for the world to see.

Meanwhile, cash prizes for athletes starts from $25.000.00 dollars for first place athlete to $3.000.00 for athlete in the 8th position for males. Females have prizes ranging from $5.000.00 dollars to $1000.00, while the prize money for Okpekpe community athletes ranges from N100, 000 for first position to N5000.00 for athlete in 8th position. It would be noted that the Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomole has picked form for the race while athletes from Kenya, Ethiopia and others has signified interest for the race.

Solid Works Boost AFN Golden League with with N50m

The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) Golden League has received a N50 million sponsorship boost from Solid Works Limited.

 President of the AFN, Chief Solomon Ogba, said that the sponsorship would enable the federation meet up with costs of hosting the League without hitches.


“We are grateful to Solid Works Limited for the sponsorship and hope to put up an edition worth remembering,” he noted.

Chief Ogba said that as a World Championships year, the AFN needs all the support it can get from the Corporate Nigeria to be able to put up a credible performance.


 “The Golden League series which my administration initiated at assumption of office are aimed at keeping Nigerian athletes based at home busy almost all through the season. We want to discourage our athletes from going to race in meets in Europe for peanuts. With the prize money at stake, serious athletes have something to look forward to in the Golden League every season,” stressed the former Delta State sports commissioner.

 The first leg of the 2013 AFN Golden League has been scheduled to hold at the Gateway Stadium in Sagamu Saturday 13th April 2013.

Oshiomhole registers for 10km Okpekpe race

Comrade Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, has picked up registration form to take part in the inaugural edition of the Okpekpe International 10kilometres Road Race scheduled to hold on May 4 in Edo State.

Special Adviser to the governor on Sports Matters, Chief Mike Itemuagbo, confirmed that the Comrade governor sent in his entry form at the weekend.

“The governor is very excited about the Okpekpe International Road Race. He has promised to complete the race,” observed Itemuagbo who is the initiator of the race aimed at exposing the Okpekpe and its environs to athletes of repute from the globe.

Already, the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), has confirmed receiving entries from Kenya and Ethiopia for the 10km race that will witness top runners from the continent.

Assistant Secretary of the AFN, Olufemi Ajao, confirmed the entries from both Kenya and Ethiopia even as he further revealed discussions were going on with managers of top road runners globally.

“Apart from the entries from Kenya and Ethiopia, we have received inquiries from managers of some of the top road runners in Africa concerning the Okpekpe race. We are very certain that some established road runners are going to be part of this inaugural edition,”

Twenty-five thousand dollars is at stake for the top finisher while the second to the eight-placed runners in both the male and female categories will also smile home with cash from the organizers. Winner of the Edo indigene category is to also get N100,000 with second and third finishers also listed for prizes.

U.S. WOMEN WITH WORLD CHAMPS QUALIFIERS (as of April 7)

100 Carmelita Jeter (wild card)
(A) 11.28
Octavious Freeman—11.02
Chaunte Bayne—11.12

(B) 11.36
Cleo VanBuren—11.34
Ashton Purvis—11.35

200 Charonda Williams (wild card)
(A) 23.05
Kimberlyn Duncan—22.54
Aurieyall Scott—22.68
Ashton Purvis—22.70
Octavious Freeman—22.72
Kamaria Brown—22.73
Natasha Hastings—22.89
Cierra White—22.91
Dezerea Bryant—23.00
Jasmine Chaney—23.01
Jessica Beard—23.02
Ashley Spencer—23.04

(B) 23.30
DeeDee Trotter—23.07
Ashley Collier—23.14
Taylor Evans—23.15
Brianna Rollins—23.22
Paris Daniels—23.23
Morolake Akinosun—23.26
Ashley Fields—23.28
Destinee Gause—23.28

400 (A) 51.55
Natasha Hastings—50.88
Ashley Spencer—51.27
Jessica Beard—51.55

(B) 52.35
Francena McCorory—51.58
Ebonie Floyd—51.82
Monica Hargrove—51.87
Phyllis Francis—52.01
Keshia Baker—52.09
Georganne Moline—52.09
Mary Wineberg—52.09
Kamaria Brown—52.16
Erika Rucker—52.22

800 (A) 2:00.00
None

(B) 2:01.50
None

1500 Jenny Simpson (wild card)
(A) 4:05.50
None

(B) 4:09.00
Brenda Martinez—4:08.43

Steeple (A) 9:43.00
None

(B) 9:48.00
Alexi Pappas—9:46.73

5000 (A) 15:18.00
Alisha Williams—15:09.73
Chelsea Reilly—15:13.24

(B) 15:24.00
None

10,000 (A) 31:45.00
Shalane Flanagan—31:04.85
Amy Hastings—31:10.69
Janet Bawcom—31:12.68
Lisa Uhl—31:12.80
Neely Spence Gracey (World XC)

(B) 32:05.00
Kara Goucher—31:46.64
Deena Kastor—31:49.23
Natosha Rogers—31:59.21
Kim Conley—32:00.94
Alisha Williams—32:03.07

100H Dawn Harper (wild card)
(A) 12.94
Vashti Thomas—12.94

(B) 13.10
Jasmine Stowers—13.07
Nichole Denby—13.10

400H Lashinda Demus (wild card)
(A) 55.40
Kori Carter—54.71
Georganne Moline—54.98

(B) 56.55
Dalilah Muhammad—55.97
Turquoise Thompson—56.16
Ashley Spencer—56.32
Ellen Wortham—56.55
Road events follow the decathlon

High Jump Chaunté Lowe (wild card)
(A) 1.95 / 6-4¾
Brigetta Barrett—1.95

(B) 1.92 / 6-3½
None

Pole Voult (A) 4.60 / 15-1
Jenn Suhr—5.02
Kylie Hutson—4.75
Janice Keppler—4.60
Mary Saxer—4.60

(B) 4.50 / 14-9
Becky Holliday—4.50
Morgann LeLeux—4.50

Long Jump Brittney Reese—6.85 (wild card)
(A) 6.75 / 22-1¾
Tori Bowie—6.91
Janay DeLoach Soukup—6.90

(B) 6.65 / 21-10
Tori Polk—6.70
Andrea Geubelle—6.69
Funmi Jimoh—6.68
Vashti Thomas—6.68
Whitney Gipson—6.65

Triple Jump (A) 14.40 / 47-3
None

(B) 14.20 / 46-7¼
None

SP (A) 18.30 / 60-½
Michelle Carter—19.41
Tia Brooks—19.22
Jeneva McCall—19.10

(B) 17.20 / 56-5¼
Felisha Johnson—17.80
Christina Hillman—17.69
Alyssa Hasslen—17.48
Anna Jelmini—17.35
Brittany Smith—17.30
Kyla Buckley—17.28

DT (A) 62.00 / 203-5
None

(B) 59.50 / 195-2
Anna Jelmini—60.61
Aretha Thurmond—60.20
Liz Podominick—59.58

HT (A) 72.00 / 236-3
Jessica Cosby-Toruga—73.00
Amanda Bingson—72.16

(B) 69.50 / 228-0
Chelsea Cassulo—69.80

JT (A) 62.00 / 203-5
None

(B) 60.00 / 196-10
None

Hept (A) 6100
Hyleas Fountain—6419
Sharon Day—6343
Chantae McMillan—6188
Bettie Wade—6143

(B) 5950
Barbara Nwaba—5986

Mar (A) 2:43:00
Shalane Flanagan—2:25:38
Desiree Davila—2:25:55
Kara Goucher—2:26:06
Amy Hastings—2:27:17
Renee Metivier Baillie—2:27:17
Serena Burla—2:28:27
Janet Bawcom—2:29:45
Deena Kastor—2:30:40
Clara Grandt—2:30:46
Alissa McKaig—2:31:56
Dot McMahan—2:32:11
Jeannette Faber—2:32:37
Stephanie Pezzullo—2:32:42
Magdalena Lewy Boulet—2:33:42
Katie McGregor—2:34:01
Melissa White—2:34:02
Wendy Thomas—2:34:25
Alisha Williams—2:35:09
Heidi Westover—2:35:35
Clara Peterson—2:35:50
Rebecca Donaghue—2:35:57
Atalech Asfaw—2:36:06
Kathy Newberry—2:36:21
Esther Erb—2:36:24
Brooke Wells—2:36:24
Loretta Kilmer—2:36:41
Nuta Olaru—2:36:57
Sheri Piers—2:36:59
Michelle Frey—2:37:03
Erin Nehus—2:37:06
Kelly Calway—2:37:10
Camille Herron—2:37:14
Linda Somers Smith—2:37:36
Ariana Hilborn—2:37:37
Emily Harrison—2:37:45
Rachel Booth—2:37:59
Caroline LeFrak—2:38:14
Zoila Gómez—2:38:37
Caroline White—2:38:43
Katie DiCamillo—2:38:50
Colleen de Reuck—2:38:52
Devon Crosby-Helms—2:38:55
Meagan Nedlo—2:39:08
Nicole Camp—2:39:10
Tera Moody—2:39:10
Kathleen Castles—2:39:19
Lauren Philbrook—2:39:47
Emily Potter—2:39:55
Kara Storage—2:39:59
Tara Storage—2:40:00
Michele Suszek—2:40:33
Alexandra Blake—2:40:36
Allison Macsas—2:40:47
Jenna Boren—2:40:48
Laurie Knowles—2:40:49
Jen Houck—2:40:51
Heidi Peoples—2:40:55
Laura Farley—2:41:05
Amanda Rice—2:41:06
Amanda Marino—2:41:22
Sopagna Eap—2:41:24
Kasie Enman—2:41:25
Addie Bracy—2:41:29
Sheila Croft—2:41:38
Jackie Pirtle-Hall—2:42:03
Heather Cappello—2:42:07
Raquel Stucky—2:42:08
Leah Thorvilson—2:42:09
Jodie Robertson—2:42:31
Nicole Cueno—2:42:33
Kerin Hempel—2:42:38
Megan Skeels—2:42:40
Natasha Labeaud—2:42:55
Brianne Nelson—2:42:58

20W (A) 1:36:00
Maria Michta—1:32:37
Miranda Melville—1:34:57
Erin Gray—1:35:41
None

(B) 1:38:00
Jill Cobb—1:37:01
Joanne Dow—1:37:10

AFN Changes Rules For Golden league

The technical committee of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has released an adjusted programme for the year and also made changes to the rules of the 2013 AFN Golden League events.

A statement by the AFN Technical Committee signed by the Technical Director, Navy Commodore Omatseye Nesiama, indicated that the 2013 Golden League will be performance-based and released the following rules to govern the event.

Qualification:
The first four in each of the above events shall automatically qualify for the next leg of the Golden League while the remaining four will qualify from the all comers’ events which shall be held in the morning of every event day.

Points:
The Golden League shall be on point scoring system 1st – 6th position shall score as follows:

Individual events
1st Position 10 points;
2nd Position 8 Points;
3rd Position 6 Points;
4th Position 4 points;
5th Position 2 points;
6th Position 1 point.

Bonus Points:
10 points shall be awarded to any athlete that achieve the IAAF World Championships ‘A’ Standard and any new National Record set shall attract 20 points.

According to Nesiama: "unlike what was obtainable in the past, athletes must achieve a minimum of 1050 points on the IAAF Scoring table before qualifying for any form of financial reward."

"All participating athletes must compete in their State or Club approved uniform especially in the relays," he added.

Nesiama also noted that there will be random dope test in any of the Golden League venue, as decided by the Technical and Anti-Doping committees of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria.