Okowa, Oyiki, Alli salute World Champ, Amusan, others

Okowa said: “I can’t believe what has just happened in the history of Nigeria’s athletics, Amusan and Brume for this historic moment. Our struggle was not in vain. They have made Nigeria proud. They have given me more hope and the courage to do more for athletics.”

By Uzor Odigbo

A swift Congratulatary messages were dispatched by Tonobok Okowa, the Athletics Federation (AFN) President, ex- 110m Hurdler Orode Oyiki and Chairman Edo State Sports Commission Yusuf Alli to Tobi Amusan and Ese Brume for their triumph at the World Athletics Championship in Oregon, United States.

Amusan came to the fore with a surprise, winning gold medal in the 100m hurdles (12:12m) in Eugene Championship. Meanwhile Brume also won a silver medal in the long jump (7.02m).

Okowa, in his remark said: “I can’t believe what has just happened in the history of Nigeria’s athletics. Amusan and Brume for this historic moment. Our struggle was not in vain. They have made Nigeria proud. They have given me more hope and the courage to do more for athletics irrespective of the challenges we are facing. I thank God for what He has done for Nigeria through Amusan and Brume.”

Speaking after Amusan world record feat, Chairman Edo State sports commission, Yusuf Alli hailed Amusan, Brume and Others for putting Nigeria positively on the global map.

He reiterated his comments during AFN Trials in Edo State, “the crop of young athletes will lift Nigeria athletics to a great heights and may surpass our efforts. I’m happy it had started happening in our time and more achievement will come,” Alli said.

On his part Barrister Orode Oyiki, practicing in Dublin Ireland, went into songs and praises, “Glory, glory hallelujah! To God be the glory! Congratulations to Tobi Amusan the newly minted World Champion in the 100m hurdles and Nigeria’s ever gold medalist and world champion.

“Congratulations Ese Brume World Championships in Athletics Silver medalist in the long jump women event. You have elevated our track and field to the highest level by your superlative and scintillating performances. Now let’s savour the opportunity. Let the sponsors swamp our sport with the much needed funding. Your successes will definitely inspire millions of Nigerian children to embrace our sport” said Oyiki.

Apart from being Nigeria’s first ever gold medallist in the championship, Amusan’s 12.06 seconds mark, wind-added (+2.5 m/s), was the first in 36 years. It was the 4th world record set in women’s hurdles. The first two world records were set far back in 1969, when Nigeria was fighting civil war. Then, women hurdles were moving up from the 80meters to the present day 100m.

Amusan’s world record of 12.06second at Oregon on Monday morning also better the 12.20seconds of Keni Harrison of USA in 2016. Before she won the gold in the early hours of Monday, Amusan actually broke the World record in her semifinal heat one, running a legal 12.12seconds, the first in 36 years. Jamaica’s Brilary Anderson picked the silver, while Jasmin Camacho-Quinn (Peru) got the bronze. Amusan’s world record earned her $100,000 on the final day of Oregon 2022 World Athletics Championship.    

On day one of the women’s 100m hurdles on Saturday evening, Amusan proved to everyone that she in the form of her life. as she yet again improved on her African record in the hurdles event with a time of 12.40s (+1.5).   It was Amusan’s third straight semifinals in World Athletics Championships history.

After her race on Saturday, Amusan on her Facebook page wrote: “God is working His purpose out. 12.42s—>12.41s—>12.40s. “Glad to have broken the African Record THREE times. I don’t know why it’s coming by 0.01s each time. “I am trusting God through the rounds! ”

The message changed soon after she won the gold medal yesterday; “I believe in my ability, but i was never expecting a world record,” Amusan stated.

Having eclipsed Gloria Alozie’s 12.44s record at the Championships, Amusan, who is the reigning African champion and record holder, did not just fulfill her dream of becoming the second Nigerian woman to win a World Championships medal in this event, but has set a record no other Nigerians and indeed African has achieved.

Alozie won the silver medal at the championships’ seventh edition in Seville, Spain in 1999. Amusan is the reigning African Games, African Championships, Commonwealth Games, and Diamond League champion. The 25-year-old has been a bit unlucky in the World Championships and Olympics where her best finish was fourth place in Doha and Tokyo.  

On her part, Long jumper, Ese Brume, grabbed a silver medal for Nigeria with a lept of 7.02meters also in the early hours of Monday.  Malaika Mihambo of Germany win the gold with a lept of 7.12meter.  

Brume was the only Nigerian to win a medal at the last edition of the world championships in Qatar, Doha in 2019. She was also Nigeria’s only medalist at the Tokyo Olympics as well as the last World Indoor Championship in Belgrade.