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By: Abiodun Adewale
Ese Brume retained her African Games title in long jump as Team Nigeria dominated the event on the penultimate day of the 2023 African Games in Ghana with debutant Prestina Ochonogor also claiming the bronze medal, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
In six attempts, Brume’s winning jump was on her first attempt as she leapt to a massive 6.92m which could not be bettered by other competitors.
She was followed by Burkina Faso’s Koala Marthe who won silver with a mark of 6.81m which she produced on her second attempt.
African Games debutant Ochonogor won bronze with 6.67m in her fifth attempt, and it was a bit better than Ruth Usoro’s 6.62m, as the triple jump gold medallist missed out on the podium by a place in the long jump.
Brume’s gold extended Nigeria’s lead in the athletics event with eight gold, three silver and two bronze medals. On the overall medals table, the country maintains its strong position in second behind runaway leaders Egypt with 36 gold, 23 silver and 33 bronze medals.
Meanwhile, three Nigerian sprinters (one female and two male) will be vying for the 200m crown on Friday (tomorrow).
Bronze medallist in the women’s 100m, Olayinka Olajide will hope to make a stronger contention for a gold in the women’s 200m final after winning her semi-finals with aplomb by running 23.51s and the second fastest time in the semis.
In the men’s final, national champion, Alaba Akintola booked his spot by winning the third semi-finals in 21.00s (-0.9), while Consider Ekanem, who missed out on the podium in the men’s 100m will also hope to claim a medal after qualifying in second place in the second semi-finals with a time of 20.92s.
