Nigerian athlete ‘snubbed’ when injured, returns to Golden League on bright note

Nigerian quartermiler, Omolara Omotosho, has said she is pleased with how she started out her athletics season at Tuesday’s Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) Golden League Meet held in Sagamu, Ogun State.

Omotosho, who was largely rendered inactive for the better part of the 2015 Athletics season owing to an injury sustained while training with Team Nigeria in the United States, told PREMIUM TIMES she was sure of improving on her winning time of 52.44s at next week’s leg of the Golden League Meet billed to take place in Akure.

“This is my first race of the season, and I believe that starting with a 52 is good. Hopefully I pray to perform better than this at the Golden League final in Akure. My target is to do a 50 by God’s grace. I had a long break but I’m surprised by the progress I’m making,” the 2014 IAAF World Relays Bronze medallist stated.

Though focused on her targets for the season, Omotosho did register her displeasure at the relevant authorities who she accused of dumping her when she got injured on national duty.

“I picked an injury when I was in Team Nigeria’s camp in the US in 2014 and I was even sent home due to the injury. Things haven’t been easy for me and I wasn’t treated right. Last year nobody even called to find out how I was doing. Thank God for the encouragement from my family and my coach.

“They are the ones who keep telling me that I can do it. In Nigeria once an athlete gets injured, you are on your own. Right now I don’t care about the federation’s motivation or not; this is my dream, and if I do not achieve it, I won’t feel happy, because doing this is my joy. I feel so bad when I see my mates running and I’m not a part of it.”

Meanwhile, in some of the other events at the Sagamu Meet, it was another win for Ogho-Oghene Egwero who emerged tops in the men’s 100m final in a time of 10.35s while the duo of Emmanuel Arowolo and Abiola Soyemi followed in 2nd and 3rd in 10.65s and 10.73s respectively.

Agnes Osazuwa returned a time of 11.81s to win the women’s 100m final. Justina Sule and Mariam Bassey Edet posted 11.94s and 12.01s respectively to finish in 2nd and 3rd.

Isah Salihu posted a season’s best time of 46.85s to win the men’s 400m final. While Henry Okorie and Tobi Ogunmola settled for 2nd and 3rd spots respectively in 47.62s and 47.74s.

The women’s Shot Put title was won by Nkechi Chime with a distance of 14.46m.

Feyisayo Daramola took the women’s Hammer throw with a distance of 55.67m, with Sophiat Omizi and Rashidat Quadri placing 2nd and 3rd respectively.

African Games champion, Kelechi Nwanaga, was unrivalled; winning the women’s Javelin throw with a mark of 50.78m, while Priscilla Zever came 2nd with a distance of 40.28m.

Though Ese Brume won the Long Jump with a leap of 6.60m, it still fell short of the 6.70m Olympic qualification mark she is desperately seeking to achieve.

The men’s 5000m was won by Saka Sanusi who finished first in 15:23.75, finishing ahead of Tyoapine Akukwa and Godfrey Musa who clocked 15:34.76 and 16:02.47.

The AFN have confirmed June 7 as date for the next leg of the Golden League Meet in Akure.