Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare was the star attraction at the Nyayo Stadium Nairobi, Kenya after she won a hat-trick of medals at the 17TH African Championships.

Okagbare was the toast of athletics fans in Nairobi as they hailed her at every turn ‘Igwe’ taking a cue from a popular Nigerian gospel hit track. She won the women 100m gold with an 11.03 championship record, she then anchored the women 4x100m relay to clinch the gold before rounding it off on the long jump pit with a 6.88m effort that earned her a third gold.

Okagbare could have added the four and fifth medals had she done the 200m and the triple jump, the event she started out with. But she suffered a muscle strain and needed a scan to access the damage and that was why she scratched from the 200m, which was later won by Damola Osayomi.

However, athletics officials are hopeful that she will retain her form, for the Commonwealth Games in October. Barring any unforseen circumstances, Okagbare could be in line for a gold medal in the long jump and perhaps a bronze in the women 100m at the New Delhi 2010 Games.