Fasuba returns to action

Members Area In the News
1

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Mobil Championship unites Fasuba, AFN, as Metu, others boast
By Gowon Akpodonor

NOT ready to gamble with his chances of picking a ticket to the World Athletics Championship in Berlin, Germany, next month, Nigerian sprinter, Olusoji Fasuba, has agreed to participate in the 20th NNPC/Mobil Track and Field Championship, which begins this morning at the Abuja National Stadium.

The Africa fastest man refused to take part in last weekend’s Abuja Grand Prix following the refusal of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) to yield to his alleged request for appearance fees before wearing Nigerian colours at the meet. Fasuba’s absence was felt in the 100 metres race as Nigeria was beaten to the gold and silver medals by a relatively unknown Ivoirien, Miete Ben Youssef (10.21seconds), and Trinidad and Tobago’s Bledman Keston (10.30 seconds).

Fasuba’s grouse with the AFN was that some of his contemporaries from other countries were paid appearance fees to run in the grand prix. A source close to the athlete told The Guardian yesterday: "It shouldn’t have gotten to that extent if officials of the AFN had approached the matter maturely.

“All they needed to do was to plead with Fasuba and other foreign-based athletes to reason with them because of the federation’s lean purse. Thank God it is resolved now and Fasuba will be competing in the Mobil championship.”

Meanwhile, Australia-based sprinter, Bola Lawal, former African junior champion, Chinedu Oriala, and Mobil defending fastest man, Obinna Metu, have promised an explosive 100 metres at the NNPC/Mobil event. The championship will serve as trials for the World Athletics Championship, which holds next month in Berlin, Germany.

The athletes, who were beaten in the 100 metres final of the Abuja meet, said in separate interviews yesterday that Nigerians should expect a better race at the Mobil trials. They blamed their poor performances at the Abuja tourney on lack of motivation, urging the Solomon Ogba-led AFN board to take a closer look at athletes’ welfare.

Last year, home-based Metu caused a sensation when he beat Fasuba to the 100 metres crown. Fasuba was on the threshold of becoming the first man to win the 100 metres gold of the championship back-to-back following his victory in the 2006 and 2007 editions, but was upstaged by Metu, who came from behind to beat him by one second, having returned 10.17 seconds to Fasuba’s 10.18.

Since the victory, Metu literally disappeared from the scene, but has now vowed to defend his crown.

2

LOL! What’s Olu’s SB? Was it 10.3x in Spain a few weeks ago?

3

10.20 +0.5 in Salamanca

I’m sure even PJ wishes Olu nothing but the best, but I think it was shameful the way he conspired to change coaches without fronting PJ in the first place. PJ, I’ll retract this if I’m mistaken, but it just seems he behaved little a little rat, naive but a rat just the same…

Fasuba Olusoji A. NGRSex Weight Height Date of Birth Place of birth
M 70.00 1.65 09/07/1984
Personal Best - Outdoor
Performance Wind Place Date
100 Metres 9.85 1.70 Doha 12/05/2006
200 Metres 20.52 0.00 Bruxelles 03/09/2004
Personal Best - Indoor
Performance Wind Place Date
50 Metres 5.76 Liévin 28/02/2004
60 Metres 6.49 Stuttgart 03/02/2007
Progression - Outdoor
Season Performance Wind Place Date
100 Metres 2009 10.20 0.50 Salamanca 08/07/2009
2008 10.10 1.20 Addis Ababa 01/05/2008
2007 10.07 -0.50 Osaka 26/08/2007
2006 9.85 1.70 Doha 12/05/2006
2005 10.09 Nairobi 07/05/2005
2004 10.09 0.30 Abuja 08/07/2004
2003 10.15 -0.60 Hyderabad 30/10/2003
200 Metres 2007 20.86 -0.40 Palermo 30/09/2007
2005 20.60 -0.10 Dakar 03/04/2005
2004 20.52 0.00 Bruxelles 03/09/2004
Progression - Indoor
Season Performance Wind Place Date
50 Metres 2004 5.76 Liévin 28/02/2004
60 Metres 2008 6.51 Valencia, ESP 07/03/2008
2008 6.51 Valencia, ESP 07/03/2008
2008 6.51 Valencia, ESP 09/02/2008
2007 6.49 Stuttgart 03/02/2007
2006 6.55 Moskva (Olimpiyskiy Stadion) 10/03/2006
2006 6.55 Chemnitz 03/03/2006
2005 6.51 Chemnitz 25/02/2005
2004 6.50 Chemnitz 27/02/2004
Honours
Rank Performance Wind Place Date
60 Metres
12th IAAF World Indoor Championships 1 f 6.51 Valencia, ESP 07/03/2008
11th IAAF World Indoor Championships 5 f 6.58 Moskva (Olimpiyskiy Stadion) 10/03/2006
10th IAAF World Indoor Championships 5 h 6.78 Budapest (SA) 05/03/2004
100 Metres
The XXIX Olympic Games 4 qf 10.21 0.00 Beijing (National Stadium) 15/08/2008
11th IAAF World Championships in Athletics 4 f 10.07 -0.50 Osaka 26/08/2007
15th African Championships in Athletics 1 f 10.37 -1.90 Bambous 10/08/2006
18th Commonwealth Games 2 f 10.11 0.90 Melbourne 20/03/2006
10th IAAF World Championships in Athletics 5 sf 10.18 0.50 Helsinki 07/08/2005
14th African Championships 1 f 10.21 0.00 Brazzaville 15/07/2004
200 Metres
10th IAAF World Championships in Athletics 8 qf 21.92 -3.70 Helsinki 10/08/2005

4

Thanks for the SB, kitkat1!

I certainly can’t come even close to explaining Olu’s behaviour! There is a big Q there… I am sure PJ won’t mind our polite comments on the issue, as we all mean well to either side, of course. Anyway, PJ is way too busy over the weekend… :cool:

5

I don’t blame him too much, i guess someone brainwashed his head with promises and stuff. Good luck to him.

6

Who and where is PJ coaching this weekend? I’ve lost touch of late. I think he is working with the French men’s and women’s national 100m recordholders? And who else?

7

woh, hi pj, didn’t realise you were already online :smiley:

8

That’s what I meant over the French Nationals… There may be another guy competing, but that’s for PJ to add, I guess.

9

No worries. If this is true, Fasuba will probably not see a 3-digit time again so PJ will have the last laugh.

10

In the men’s dash Obinna Metu retained his title in 10.27, ahead of Ogho-Oghene Egwero (10.27 too) while Olusoji Fasuba, who’s been training under Francis Obikwelu in Portugal this season, trailed in third with 10.35. (edit: he apparently did 10.48 in the semi-final)

Some confirmation of the result would be good just to be sure…

11

THANKS NIKO… THIS FROM THE VANGUARD ONLINE

Metu sets NNPC/Mobil record, Odumosu, new national record

Sports Jul 25, 2009

Nigeria’s fastest man Obinna Metu yesterday made history in the NNPC/Mobil Track and Field Championships when he took the men’s 200m after winning the 100m Friday as Ajoke Odumosu highlighted the last day of the championships with a new national record in the 400m hurdles inside the mainbowl of the National stadium in Abuja.

Metu, an ambassador of security firm G4S, ran 20.59 to beat his rivals while Halimat Ismaila took the female 200m title with 23.38. With this victory, Metu became the first man in championships history to successfully complete a back-to-back sprints double while for Ismaila, it was her first individual title at the championships.

Odumosu ran 54.80 seconds to break the 55.02 seconds national record she set last May in Ponce. Her time was however 900th of a second off the 54.71 seconds that would have qualified her for the N1m jackpot prize set aside for athletes who attain certain standards set by the Athletic Federation of Nigeria (AFN).

The University of South Alabama graduate was however pushed all the way by Cyprus-based Amaka Ogoegbulam who also ran a new personal best of 55.88.

Odumosu has thus become the first Nigerian 400m runner to break the 54 seconds barrier:rolleyes::confused: and looks a sure bet for a final appearance in the event next month in Berlin at the 12th IAAF World Championships if she maintains the form.

In the 100m hurdles, Toyin Augustus successfully defended her title to become the second athlete after Angela Atiede to win the event thrice in succession. Her task was however made easier by University of Houston Kinesiology graduate, Seun Adigun who hit the third hurdle and fell as well as another USA-based athlete, Jessica Ohanaja who struggled with a hamstring injury.

Long jumper, Stanley Gbagbeke lived up to billing as the numero uno in the event with a leap of 7.92 to win the event. The University of Middle Tennessee undergraduate student however failed to fulfil expectations of those expecting him to become the third jumper to go above the 8 metre mark after George Ogbeide and Obinna Eregbu did it in the early 1990s.

Gbagbeke had raised hopes of another 8m jump after his personal best setting 8.06m leap earned him the silver at penultimate Saturday’s CAA Super Grand Prix held in Abuja.

In the women’s triple jump, Nkiruika Domike won her second title in the event with a leap of 13.95m, a new personal best. She won her first title in 2006 with a leap of 13.86m, then a new national record.

Quarter-miler, Saul Weipopwa emerged the 400m champion for the fourth time at the championships with a new 46.01 personal season’s best. He was the winner in 2003,2004 and 2007 while his training partner, Godday James ,the second man to have ducked inside 45 seconds at the championships failed to make the podium .USA-based Amaechi Morton came second in the race in 46.10, a new personal best while coach Tony Osheku’s athlete, Noah Akwu also ran a new 46.13 to place third.

In the women’s version, reigning IAAF World Junior queen, Folashade Abugan expectedly strolled to victory in 51.75 while University of Texas in El Paso’s Endurance Abinuwa ran a new personal best of 52.43 to come second. Policewoman, Josephine Ehigie was third in 52.86.

4 Responses for “Metu sets NNPC/Mobil record, Odumosu, new national record”
Darlington Ray Okpebholo says:
July 26, 2009 at 7:14 pmThats the dividends of Solomon Ogba`s investment in the track and field games.

What is happening to DAMOLA the queen of the track last year? Please fire on its too early to be overthrown o… Please.

Mac. Ohale says:
July 26, 2009 at 3:45 pmWHERE ARE THE “MONEY BAGS” OF NIGERIA ? THIS IS THE TIME THEY SHOULD COME OUT FROM THEIR HIDING AND SPONSOR THESE PROMISING ATHLETES AS THIER OWN CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS RE-BRANDING NIERIA.

kedu says:
July 26, 2009 at 1:46 pmMetu is a full promise of an accomplished athlete with full potentials to challenge Bolt and his jamaican cartel

Mukhtar says:
July 26, 2009 at 1:25 pmAFN, kindly help the athletes, you can see that they are rpomising. I know the track and field Governing body are doing all they could to motivate the athletes. For the athletes, for you to be a champion, you must do some sacrifies be more patrotic. Best of luck AFN and our National pride ( the athletes) go ahead and make us proud.

12

Saturday, July 25, 2009

Metu Retains Title, As Okagbare Becomes Nigeria’s Fastest Woman

From Gowon Akpodonor, Abuja

JUST as it happened at the 19th NNPC/Mobil Athletics Championship in 2008, so it was yesterday at the Abuja Stadium where Obinna Metu retained the tag of Nigeria’s fastest man after winning the men’s 100 metres race in a time of 10.27seconds.

Metu beat the world’s 60 metres champion, Olusoji Fasuba to third place to retain his title.

Fasuba, who is the current African record holder, could not stand the heat from the emerging crop of Nigerian sprinters, with National Sports Festival champion, Oghene Egwero, running faster than him to win the silver medal.

In the women’s category, Olympic long jump bronze medalist, Blessing Okagbare showed that being a jumper could not stop her from running fast, as she beat another Olympic medalist, Damola Osayomi to the second place with a time of 11.16seconds.

Osayomi, who wanted to use the tourney to redeem her image after a poor outing at the Abuja Grand Prix, could not handle Okagbare’s pace, with her 11.39 seconds being only good enough for second place in the race. Halimat Ismaila came third at 11.44seconds.

United States-based Okagbare had earlier in the day confirmed her supremacy in her area of specialization, long jump, which she won with a 6.73metres leap in the event.

But even with her victory, Okagbare told her elated fans that her heart beats for long jump, adding that she hopes to focus on the event at the World Championship in Berlin, Germany.

Her words: "I never believed I could run such speed but the race was not difficult for me. I won’t enter for 100 metres in Berlin. I will only concentrate on long jump, " she said.

She added that 11.16 seconds was her personal best in the event.

For Metu, it was a good outing after being disqualified at the Abuja Grand Prix.

“I was really under pressure to retain my title, especially after beating the gun and getting disqualified last week during the Grand Prix,” Metu said.

In women’s discuss, Vivian Chukwuemeka won with a throw of 48.36metres, while Kenechukwu Ezeofo of Prisons Service won the men’s javelin with 66.74metres.

Emmanuel Gyang of Plateau won the men’s marathon and 10,000metres respectively.

For the Berlin tourney, Nigeria’s quartet in the men’s 4x400m, Godday James, Saul Weigpowa, Abiola Onakoya and Noah Akwu has booked a place for next month’s International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF)-organised World Championships in Berlin, Germany. The team’s place was confirmed last weekend at the Abuja Grand Prix.

The quartet ran a 3mins 02.30 secs to book Nigeria’s place in the 1600 relays of the world meet, a feat which impressed the technical director of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Sunday Bada.

The results of the 20th edition of the NNPC/Mobil Track and Field Championship would be used to select Nigeria’s flag bearers at the Berlin 2009 IAAF World Championship.

All first place finishers got N50, 000 cash while silver medalists went home with N30, 000. Third place finishers went home with N20,000 each.

13

just looked up the 50,000N first prize.Seems to be worth 335usd

14

Enough for plenty of camps and races around the world! :rolleyes:

If anyone gets full results of the 100 m (heats, semis, final), please post them here!

15

Yes, well good luck with any of that: Here again is the live link to the Nigerian Federation which boasts that their website is “frequently updated” yet they do not have a single Preview, much less result, for their own National Championships which have now concluded…:rolleyes: They really should be ashamed :o

http://www.athleticsnigeria.org/afn/

16

I know… They’ve got Abuja results there, so who knows, we may have them before Berlin… :stuck_out_tongue:

17

Is this what you are after?

http://www.iaaf.org/gp09/results/area/eventcode=4228/index.html

Abuja CAA Super Grand Prix (APM-Q)
Abuja (NGR) - Saturday, Jul 18, 2009
1 Ben Youssef Meité CIV 10.21 6
2 Keston Bledman TRI 10.30 4
3 Ogho-oghene Egwero NGR 10.31 2
4 Daniel Grueso COL 10.32 1
5 Peter Emelieze NGR 10.33
6 Thomas Hunter USA 10.35
7 Ricardo Williams JAM 10.35
8 Abraham Morlu LBR 10.41
9 Bolaji Lawal NGR 10.43

18

First set of results here
http://www.africathle.com/gb/perso/perf/072009.html#ngr

19

Thankyou PJ, you are a treasure of information (sometime it’s even useful :smiley: )

Nigeria championships, Abuja 23-25/07
Source: Various newspapers
Men
100m: (final, 24) 1. Obinna Metu 10.27, 2. Egwero Ogho-Oghene 10.27, 3. Olusoji Fasuba 10.35; (semi-finals, 23) Chinedu Oriala 10.39, Olusoji Fasuba 10.48; (heats, 23) Onyeabor Ngwogwu 10.42; 200m: (finale, 25) 1. Obinna Metu 20.59; 400m: 1. Saul Weigopwa 46.01, 2. Amaechi Morton 46.10, 3. Noah Akwu 46.13; 10000m: (23) 1. Emmanuel Gyang 31:17.01, 2. Danjuma Kopkuddi 31:18.93, 3. Danjuma Gyang 31:37.41, 4. Markus Gwom 31:42.60,… 6. Iliya Pam 31:52.10; Half-marathon: 1. Emmanuel Gyang 1:11:37, 2. Danjuma Gyang 1:11:51, 3. Wilson Eku 1:12:16; High jump: 1. Adetayo Adesanya 2.15m, 2. Obiorah Arinze 2.15m; Pole vault: 1. Jonh Adigigbi 3.70m, 2. Michael Agiepo 3.60m, 3. Sunday Ochapa 3.50m; Long jump: 1. Stanley Gbagbeke 7.92m; Hammer:1. Ibrahim Baba 55.55m, 2. Dauda Omizi 49.85m, 3. Onoyanse Felix 45.94m; Javelin: (23) 1. Kenechukwu Ezeofor 66.74m, 2. Friday Osayande 66.30m, 3. Kingsley Igbinosu 62.33m;
Women.
100m: (finale, 24) 1. Blessing Okagbare 11.16, 2. Damola Osayomi 11.39, 3. Halimat Ismaila 11.44, 4. Gloria Kemasuode 11.55m; (séries, 23) (1) 1. Halimat Ismaila 11.52; (2) 1. Gloria Kemasuode 11.60, (3) 1. Olivia Kizzee 11.57; (4) 1. Damola Osayomi 11.52; (5) 1. Blessing Okagbare 11.38; 200m: (final, 25) 1. Halimat Ismaila 23.38; 400m:1. Folashade Abugan 51.75, 2. Endurance Abinuwa 52.43, 3. Josephine Ehigie 52.86; Half-marathon: 1. Dintis Yohanna ?, 2. Janet Dung 1:26:49, 3. Lydia Michael 1:27:55; 100H: 1. Toyin Augustus 12.95, Seun Adigun dnf;; 400H: 1. Ajoke Adumosu 54.80 NR, 2. Amaka Ogoegbulam 55.88; Long jump: 1. Blessing Okagbare 6.73m; Triple: 1. Nkiruka Domike 13.95m; Poids: 1. Vivian Chukwuemeka ?; Discus: 1. Vivian Chukwuemeka 48.36m, 2. Keke Immaculate 41.90m, 3. Obubuleye O. Perrt 41.52m;; Hammer: 1. Funke Adeoye 54.10m;

20

Thanks guys! Youngy, these are from the meeting in Abuja; I am after those from the Nationals this weekend. I actually saw the link with the first three per event yesterday. I am looking for places 4 and down… It will come with time, I guess :confused: