The Nation Newspaper

Tag: International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF)

  • Edo agog as participants arrive Benin for Okpekpe Road Race

    …Obaseki restates commitment to successful outing

     

    With a few hours to the commencement of the 2018 edition of Okpekpe Road Race scheduled for Saturday, May 12, enthusiasm is at a fever pitch in Edo State, host of the first 10-kilometer International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) silver label road race in Nigeria.

    Social and economic activities have witnessed positive spike from the Benin Airport, through the ancient city and to the communities hosting the event,  as  participants, including Elite and local athletes, sports journalists, sponsors, supporters of the event and dealers in souvenirs arrive the state for the event.

    Investigation showed that hotels in Benin City are fully booked and late comers are resorting to smaller lodging facilities in the city while operators of outdoor bars, taxis, guest houses and relaxation spots are counting their gains.

    The Okpekpe international 10km road race, currently in its sixth year, is the only road race recognised by the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) in Nigeria.

    The number of endorsements by corporate organisations has raised the profile of the event, the latest being the Nigerian Breweries Plc.

    The Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, on Friday restated his administration’s commitment to a successful race and assured participants of adequate security.

    Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, said the governor’s assurance is coming after he had earlier encouraged Edo indigenes and other Nigerians to register and compete in the 10km Road Race because of the inherent benefit of building an army of home-grown long-distance runners to represent the country in similar competitions within the country and overseas.

    Obaseki noted that much as the state is happy to play host to athletes from East African countries and other parts of the world, the competition also presents an opportunity for Edo indigenes to prove their mettle and strive to clinch the top prize.

    “As Nigerians, we are known to never give in easily in contests. So, this competition presents another opportunity for us to put up a challenge and compete to win the top prizes,” the governor said.

    According to him, “Edo State is blessed with planes and conditions that can groom people for long-distance races. Highlands such as Somorika Hills can groom athletes to favourably compete in this competition. It even presents a good training ground for many others who would like to participate.

    He added, “The Okpekpe road race is one of our emerging sports and tourism assets and we need to tap from this unique opportunity to build grassroots sports and project ourselves as a welcoming and sports-loving people.”

    Describing the backing of Nigerian Breweries as a big boost, spokesman for the race, Dare Esan was quoted as saying that the company is “coming in as a Friend of the Race. It is a massive boost for the image of the race to have a pioneer brewing company support an event in which history will be made on May 12, 2018.”

     

     

  • IAAF: Nominees announced for World Athlete of the Year awards

    IAAF: Nominees announced for World Athlete of the Year awards

    The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) on Monday released a list of 20 athletes nominated for the 2017 World Athlete of the Year awards.

    “The IAAF is pleased to confirm a list of 10 men and 10 women nominees who were selected by an international panel of athletics experts, comprising representatives from all six continental areas of the IAAF.

    “This week marks the opening of the voting process for the 2017 World Athletes of the Year, ahead of the IAAF Athletics Awards 2017, scheduled for Monaco on Nov. 24,’’ the world athletics ruling body said in a statement.

    It listed the male nominees to include Mutaz Barshim of Qatar, Elijah Manangoi of Kenya, Pawel Fajdek of Poland, Mohamed Farah of Great Britain and Sam Kendricks of the U.S.

    The rest are Luvo Manyonga of South Africa, Omar McLeod of Jamaica, Christian Taylor of the U.S., Wayde van Niekerk of South Africa and Johannes Vetter of Germany.

    The female nominees include Almaz Ayana of Ethiopia, Maria Lasitskene who is an Authorised Neutral Athlete (ANA), Hellen Obiri of Kenya, Sally Pearson of Australia and Sandra Perkovic of Croatia.

    Others are Brittney Reese of the U.S., Caster Semenya of South Africa, Ekaterini Stefanidi of Greece, Nafissatou Thiam of Belgium and Anita Wlodarczyk of Poland.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a three-way voting process will determine the finalists.

    The IAAF Council and the IAAF Family will cast their votes by email, while fans can vote online via the IAAF’s social media platforms.

    Individual graphics for each nominee will be posted on social media platforms facebook and twitter later this week, with a “like’’ or “favourite’’ counting as one vote.

    The IAAF Council’s vote will count for 50 per cent of the result, while the IAAF Family’s votes and the public votes will each count for 25 per cent of the final result.

    NAN reports that voting will close on Oct. 16, with three men and three women finalists to be announced by the IAAF at the conclusion of the voting process

    The male and female World Athletes of the Year will be announced live on stage at the IAAF Athletics Awards 2017.

  • Nigerian young athletes missing at IAAF World U-18 Championships

    Nigerian young athletes missing at IAAF World U-18 Championships

    In spite of registering young athletes for the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World U-18 championships, the country did not attend.

    The development has again shattered the hopes of the young athletes to represent their country after camping for months at the High Performance Centre, University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT).

    The competition began on Wednesday and will end on July 16 in Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani in Nairobi.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the IAAF website showed that Enoch Adegoke lined up in Heat 2, Gershon Omubo in Heat 3 of the 100m men did not start.

    Rosemary Chukwuma has been lined in Lane 2, Heat 4 later in the day for the 100m women.

    While in the 400m men, Nsikak Okon was, and Knowledge Omovoh and Umewedino Abasiono also did not also start in the 400m women.

    It will be recalled that Nigeria did not participate in the 2015 edition of the IAAF U-18 Championships because they did not secure visas.

    NAN reports that sometime in May, Amechi Akawo, the Secretary, Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), had given assurance that the country would participate in the event.

    Athletics enthusiasts who pleaded anonymity, however, said that it was becoming a norm to train young athletes with the hope of representing the country only for their hopes to be dashed.

    He, however, said that if Nigeria kept disappointing these young talented athletes, they might easily get lured by other countries.

    “Nigeria is blessed with immense talents but we keep failing to realise it and utilise our potential.

    “These young athletes were discovered and nurtured over time, if not given proper attention they may get lured by other countries and it will be a minus to our sport,’’ he said.

  • Okpekpe Road Race: I didn’t know I’ll win, says fastest Nigerian female

    Deborah Pam, the fastest Nigerian female at the just-concluded 5th Okpekpe 10km Road Race on Monday said she did not believe she would win because she was just recovering from an injury.

    The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Bronze label road race held on May 13 in Okpekpe Town in Edo.

    Pam told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that her success was due to consistent training when she was injury free.

    “I will attribute my success to training, I train everyday unless I am not healthy but I never thought that I will win the 5th Okpekpe race because I was just recovering from injury.

    “I really want to thank my training partner, Emmanuel Gyang, he kept pushing me not to give up. I am also grateful to God because he gave me the strength,’’ she said.

    Pam, who works in the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), said her way of relaxing was training effortlessly in order not to be caught unawares.

    Ethiopian duo of Luel Gebrasilasis and Azmera Gebru emerged winners in the male and female foreign elite categories of the race.

    Gebrasilasis coasted home to victory in 29:28secs, clinching the top prize of 15,000 dollars, while his compatriot, Dawit Fikadu came second with a time of 29:34 secs and received the 10,000 dollars prize money.

    Ethiopian, Jemeli Bekeli also touched the finish line in 32:22secs to win the third prize of 7,000 dollars.

    The fastest Nigerian in the male category of the race was Plateau State-born Jigade Monday, who raced to the finish line in 31:53secs, followed by Emmanuel Gyang and Ismail Sajor, in the second and third positions respectively.

    In the female category, Gebru, completed the race in 33:59secs, followed by Kenya’s Veronica Maina, who finished in 34:19secs and Timbili Jemeli, also from Kenya, third with a time of 34:39secs.

    The fastest Nigerian female athlete in the race, Deborah Pam, finished with a time of 38:15secs and was followed by Elizabeth Nuhu from Nasarawa State with 38:41secs.

    Rose Ajusho came third with a time of 38:55secs.

    For the Nigerian male and female categories, the winners, first and second runners-up got N250,000, N100,000 and N80,000, respectively.

  • Okagbare set to compete at IAAF Diamond League in Doha

    Okagbare set to compete at IAAF Diamond League in Doha

    Blessing Okagbare says she is set to compete as the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Diamond League begins on May 5 in Doha.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Okagbare is a World Championships silver medallist and is ranked 18th in the world in 200m.

    IAAF said on its website on Wednesday that Okagbare would be competing alongside seven other top 200m sprinters.

    According to a provisional entry list made available by IAAF, for the 200m are Joanna Atkins of U.S. with a personal best of 22.27secs, Veronica Campbell-Brown with personal best of 21.74 secs.

    Simone Facey of Jamaica with a personal best of 22.25 secs, Desiree Henry of Great Britain with 22:46 secs and Nigeria’s Okagbare with 22:23secs.

    Others are Dafne Schippers of Netherlands with 21:63 secs, Marie-Josee Ta Lou of Cote d’Ivoire with 22:21secs and Elaine Thompson of Jamaica with 21:66secs.

    In the men’s 100m event are Ronnie Baker of U.S., Kim Collins of Saints Kitts and Nevis, Andre De Grasse of Canada, U.S. Justin Gatlin, Youssef Meite of Cote d’Ivoire

    Others are Femi Ogunode of Qatar, Asafa Powell of Jamaica and Akani Simbine of South Africa.

    Other events to be featured are 4x100m girls relay, 4x100m boys relay, shot put women, 100m girls/women, pole vault women, 100m boys/men, 60m boys/men, 800m boys/men.

    The rest are High Jump men, 800m regional men, 400m men, Javelin throw men, 1500m men, 800m women, Triple Jump men, 100m hurdles women, 3000m steeplechase, 400m hurdles men and 3000m men.

  • IAAF World Relays: U.S., Jamaica, Australia top table, Nigeria 16th

    To consolidate on their position as the strongest relay nation in the world, the U.S. collected their third successive Golden Baton honour at the IAAF/BTC World Relays, “Bahamas 2017’’.

    The U.S. won five of the nine events over the two-day programme, took silver in a pair and third in another to tally 60 points, 21 ahead of Jamaica which had 39 in total.

    The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) said on its website on Monday that the Golden Baton was awarded to the team who accrues the most points.

    It said the points were based on the simple scoring system of eight points for first place down to one point for finishing eighth.

    Australia was third with 24, edging Poland by just one point.

    The U.S. won the men’s 4x800m and men’s and women’s 4x400m on the final day but for the vociferous crowd that gathered in Nassau’s Thomas A Robinson Stadium.

    It said that the highlight was the resounding victory by a Bahamian quartet in the mixed 4x400m relay that capped the thoroughly entertaining evening.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Kenya placed sixth with 16 points, Botswana placed 11th with 10 points and Nigeria placed 16th on the table with six points.

    The competition held from April 22 to April 23 at Nassau, Bahamas and Nigeria featured only the women’s team in the 4x100m, 4x200m and 4x400m.

    Nigeria’s 4x200m women’s squad, the winner of the 2015 edition failed to retain its title by clinching a distant fifth position. (NAN)
    MJO/PDE

  • Okpekpe Race: Walk race gold medallist vows to prove mettle

    Fadekemi Olude, a race walk gold medallist at the 2015 African Youth Athletics Championships (AYAC), has vowed to prove her mettle at the forthcoming 5th Okpekpe International 10km Road Race.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Okpekpe race, the only International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Label Road Race in Africa is scheduled for May 13 in Edo State.

    Olude, who recently recognised her strength for long distance races told NAN on Monday that she hoped to win first the Nigerian female category.

    “I didn’t believe it at first that I could win the second Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, but I guess being a race walker also helped me to achieve the position.

    “I am planning to win the best Nigerian female position in Okpekpe with God on my side’’ she said.

    Olude said she would repeat the feat like she did at the 2nd Access Bank Lagos City Marathon on Feb.11 in Lagos.

    NAN also reports that Olude won the 42km race with a time of 2:55:16.

    She said that she would continue to feature in race walks and marathons.

    Countries expected to participate in the event are Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Eritrea, Bahrain, Germany, Turkey, Morocco, Burundi and host, Nigeria.

    New technological innovations such as mobile applications, line tracking and transponders have been introduced into this year’s competition.

  • Former Nigerian decathlete honoured by Saudi Arabia

    Former Nigerian decathlete honoured by Saudi Arabia

    Former Nigerian decathlete Christian Aiyegbeni has been honoured by the Saudi Arabian sports authorities for producing an athlete who would represent the country in 2018 world junior event.

    Aiyegbeni was on Friday awarded a medal and a certificate of honour from the Ministry of Youths and Sports, Jizan Chapter, Saudi Arabia.

    Aiyegbeni, who coaches Track and Field at the Yarmouk Sports Club in Abu Arish, Jizan, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that he was grateful for the recognition.

    He added that he was happy to have produced the fastest junior sprinter, Abdul Murzuk, who would represent Saudi Arabia at the forthcoming World Junior Championships.

    NAN reports that the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World U20 Championship is scheduled for Tampere, Finland in July 2018.

    “My club came overall first in the state of Jizan; it will represent the state at the national level where every state in Saudi Arabia will meet and compete.

    “I am very happy that I was recognised for producing the fastest junior sprinter to represent Saudi Arabia at the forthcoming World Junior Championships.

    “I’m grateful to God for granting me the divine favour to be recognised by another country. It shows that they appreciate my little contribution to their sports development,’’ he said.

    Aiyegbeni urged Nigerian sports administrators to emulate other countries in rewarding outstanding coaches, adding that it would encourage them to do more.

    “Coaches in Nigeria should be openly recognised, honoured and rewarded as I have experienced it in Saudi Arabia. Such acts will spur coaches to put in their best,’’ he said.

  • Bolt, Farah, Thompson among 2017 Laureus awards nominees

    Bolt, Farah, Thompson among 2017 Laureus awards nominees

    Olympic champions Usain Bolt, Mo Farah and Elaine Thompson are among the nominees announced for the 2017 Laureus World Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year Awards.

    A statement on the website of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) on Thursday said that Bolt was a three-time winner of the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award.

    The statement said he successfully defended his Olympic 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay titles to leave Rio as one of the 2016 Olympic Games’ biggest heroes.

    It added that the 30-year-old Jamaican received the honour in 2009, 2010 and 2013.

    It said that Farah, 33, successfully defended his Olympic titles at 5000m and 10,000m to become only the second man to achieve the back-to-back “double double’’ over the distances.

    Thompson, who won the Olympic 100m and 200m titles in Rio and U.S. sprinter Allyson Felix, the Olympic 400m silver medallist are nominated for the World Sportswoman of the Year Award.

    It said that elsewhere, Almaz Ayana of Ethiopia and South African Wayde van Niekerk were nominated for the World Breakthrough of the Year award.

    Both set world records in Rio, Ayana in the 10,000m and van Niekerk in the 400m. In December, Ayana and Bolt were named Athletes of the Year and the IAAF Athletics Awards 2016.

    Ruth Beitia, Spain’s Olympic and European high jump champion was among the nominees in the Comeback of the Year category.

    Outside of athletics, tennis star Andy Murray, NBA stars LeBron James and Stephen Curry were also nominated in the men’s category.

    Other women nominated for the top honour include gymnast Simone Biles and swimmer Katie Ledecky of the U.S., German tennis star Angelique Kerber and British cyclist Laura Kenny.

    The statement said that the nominees were selected following a ballot by the world’s sports media.

    It added that the winners will be announced at the Laureus World Sports Awards ceremony on Feb. 14 in Monaco, Spain.