Okagbare Looking To Bounce Back Next Year

Nigeria’s sprint queen, Blessing Okagbare has sworn to come back stronger in 2016 Olympics in Rio after a disappointing showing at the World Athletics Championship last month.

In a message posted on her Facebook wall, she recalled that earlier this season she was able to record a 10.98 seconds in the 100 metres in the IAAF Diamond League meeting in Shaghai, China on May 17.

Blessing Okagbare in action

Thirteen days later, she registered a 10.87 record at the Prefontaine Classic (IAAF Diamond League) in Eugene, Oregon,USA.

At the IAAF Diamond League meeting at the Stade de France in Saint-Dennis in Paris in June, Okagbare ran a time of 10.80 taking second behind Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pyrce at the event which put her on the pedestal as one of the best in the World.

READ ALSO: Enyeama Reveals Why He Opted Out OF Nigeria’s Squad, Oliseh Names His Replacement

Her progress was however hampered by a knee injury she suffered when competing in the long jump event on July 9 in Lausanne, Switzerland.

She then bounced back at the Olympic stadium in London on July 25 where she ran 10.98 behind Dutchwoman Dafne Schippers to raise hopes of her readiness to make history as the first Nigerian, man or woman, to win a blue ribband title at the world championships.

READ ALSO: Coach Plays Down Injury Tale, Reveals Why Okagbare Fizzled Out At The Eleventh Hour

All her efforts this year however seem to go to waste when she placed last in Beijing at the 15th IAAF World Championships.

She has since then described the race as ‘one of the most unfortunate and darkest periods in her Career’.

She then blamed a sore hamstring as the reason she was a no-show at the both the 200m and the 4x100m events.

READ ALSO: Who Is To Blame For Nigeria’s Failure At The 2015 World Athletics Championships? The Athletes Or The Govt.

“Despite all these Blessing was able to honour her commitment to the Diamond League and finished her season on a high note with a second place finish behind Fraser-Pryce at the 100 meters in Zurich, Switzerland,” the message on her wall read.

Okagbare has made it know that she won’t be taking part in the on-going All Africa Games in Congo, She is currently the defending Champion of the long jump title, she won years ago in Maputo Mozambique.

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