The new Togolese National Rrecord holder in Hammer throw, Lagneble, would be celebrated at home and this gives the 22 year old a lot of leverage in Togo
By Uzor Odigbo
Day two of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) All-comers competition was rounded off on Friday at Yaba Tech sports center with athletes making the cut for the Africa Senor Athletics Championship in Mauritius.
Travelling out of his country (Togo) for the first time to Lagos, 22-year old Marko Lagneble threw a Togolese Record of 42.00m to finish 2nd in the men’s Hammer throw.
Interestingly, Lagneble wanted to do the Shot Put, but was convinced to try the Hammer, and now has an National Record in less than two years of being in the sport.
The athletes were entered by coach Lati Michael Obesesan from neighbouring countries, Benin Republic and Togo to compete in Nigeria’s open trials.
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Obesesan said, though he works at Togo’s athletics High performance Centre, the athletic talents in Nigeria is huge and competitions not too many in Togo.
According to him, the new Togolese National Record holder in Hammer throw would be celebrated at home, this would give the 22 year old a lot of leverage in Togo.
The athlete who is visiting Nigeria for the first time was amazed at the talents he saw especially in sprints where over 12 heats men and women respectively featured.
Lagneble was also thrilled by spectators at the arena, insisting that the noise from the stands was enough to propel athletes to greater performance.
“I like here, spectators are good and can make athletes do well. I will come again, it depends on my coach.
“My people would be happy at my accomplishment in Lagos and I’m happy it happens in Lagos,” he said.
He was however disappointed for not setting his eyes on some elite Nigeria athletes he had wanted to meet.
Athletes like Blessing Okagbare, Ese Brume,
and others. He told TheNiche that he watched these athletes on Television at Tokyo Olympics.