By Ben Efe
Lanky sprinter, Obinna Metu, rewrote the form books when he emerged champion of the men’s 100m at the Mobil track and field championships decided last weekend in Calabar.

Metu

Before the Calabar Mobil, which stood as trials for African championships and Commonwealth Games, Metu did not show any sign that he was capable of winning the race. But during the 100m  final he shocked Nigeria’s leading sprinter, Ogho-Oghene Egwero, Benjamin Adikwu and Peter Emelieze the athletes tipped to occupy the first three slots.

Emelieze explained that Obinna was just lucky to have got out of the block after the starters fumbled with their gun.
“The starters ruined what could have been a good race. It was just like on your marks and go, there was no seconds pause, before the firing of the gun.”

“Obinna happened to have left the blocks first and he did well to finish well. It affected me and also Egwero. We did not lose the race because of poor form, it was technicalities that caused us the race,”said Emelieze.
He added the African championships in Nairobi, Kenya will be another ground for the Nigerian sprinters to prove who is really the best this season.

Obinna clocked 10. 25 seconds, while Egwero and his golden league rival, Adikwu finished 10.40 respectively.  Fred Ovie-Agbaje was fourth with 10.52, while Emelieze was fifth with 10.53.

Before the race Egwero ran 10.13 seconds and 10.20 during the course of the AFN golden league.
The women race was easily taken by Blessing Okagbare with 11.06, Damola Osayomi was second with 11. 23, Agnes Osazuwa placed third with 11.45, while Cyprus based Lauretta Ozoh was forth.

Emelieze urged the Athletics Federation of Nigeria to ensure that the sprinters that will be selected for the Commonwealth Games are well groomed to run the relay at the New Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games.
“This time we cannot afford to make mistakes with our exchange. We need three good weeks of practice, good enough three of us are based in Europe.

It will be nice if the AFN can support us so that we can attend meets and run relays. By October we will be in a good competitive mood,” Emelieze said.