Three Team Nigeria Athletes Qualify for Semi Finals
THREE Team Nigeria’s athletes made sensational starts in their various fields in the Athletics events of the London Olympics yesterday romping into the semi finals stage.
Omolara Omotosho, Amechi Morton and Regina George brought back relief and heightened the expectation of an eagerly-awaiting nation for their first medal at the Olympics when they qualified for the semi finals of their events.
Omolara scraped through on her time of 52.11 secs. It was her first time at the Olympics and she endured tension and a jampacked stadium. She was close to tears and clutched her thigh after the race.
Regina George, a US-based athlete making her debut in the Olympics was graceful. In a pack that included Russia’s Gushchina Yulia and Wesh Marlene of Haiti, Regina tickled the crowd with her graceful strides to finish first in the strong pack. She returned a time of 51.24secs.
“It was competitive. I was nervous but I realised it was just another race and I kicked. When I found myself leading I was confused as I couldn’t imagine I would be doing so. But I kept on pumping till the end. I now feel I can make it to the final where it will be anybody’s race. I won’t feel that way again. Now I feel I can be in the top three’’, the ever-smiling Regina said at the mixed zone.
Amechi Morton also picked a semi final ticket in the Men’s 400 Hurdles. ‘’The important thing is to move into the semi finals and try to qualify for the finals’’, Amechi offered.
Athletics Coach, Innocent Egbunike offered a smile and said that they are taking it step by step.
- Tribune
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