AAC Champs: Chukwuma laments over women’s 100m gold medal miss
By Uzor Odigbo
Nigerian sprinter Rosemary Chukwuma left the University of Ghana sports stadium feeling drained, after she was pushed to the second position in the final of the women’s 100m in day two of the African Athletics Championships.
Following her good showing in the heats and semifinal was the favourite to win the gold, but it turned out to be a complex race.
The women had a good start off the blocks and Chukwuma running in lane two was slightly ahead of the pack, but perhaps oblivious of what Cameroon’s Harverge Kole Etame was doing in the middle lane, didn’t have the push to win it decisively, and this led to a chaotic finish.
Chukwuma and Kole Etame were locked in a photo finish in 11.48 seconds, but Cameroonian nipped it with her dipping.
“I’m disappointed by the outcome, it was my race, but they gave me silver,” said a somber Chukwuma as she prepared to leave the stadium in a waiting Uber ride.
Athletics Federation of Nigeria officials were enraged most especially and instantly launched a protest after the race but later accepted their fate.
“The photo finish confirmed that Rosemary Chukwuma was in second place,” AFN head coach Solomon Aliyu.
Chukwuma will now focus on the 200m for some redemption.
