Athletics Championships: Okpara, Amata win high jump titles

Doreen Amata could not beat her national record.

Theddus Okpara of Team Sloekan on Friday in Calabar won the men’s high jump event at the All Nigeria/Cross River Open Athletics Championships.

Okpara posted a winning jump of 2.10 m to win the gold medal, ahead of Arinze Obiora who won silver also on a jump of 2.10 m, while Ashipa Abayomi’s 1.95 m settled for the bronze.

Okpara’s winning jump was however not enough to smash Anthony Idiata’s national record jump of 2.27 m set in 2008.

A delighted Okpara, while speaking later, said the win had proven his critics wrong, adding that he was looking forward to another edition of the annual event.

“It’s a great win for me. It’s been much anticipated and I believe this win has proved doubters wrong. I look forward to next year’s event,’’ he said.

In the women’s category, Doreen Amata’s 1.90 m was enough to earn her the gold medal, winning comfortably against her contenders.

Tina Samson won the silver medal with a jump of 1.70 m while Anslem Chinenye took the bronze with a jump of 1.65 m.

Just like in the men’s category, Amata, who holds the current national women’s high jump record of 1.95 m, failed to beat her own record which she set in 2008.

(NAN)