Nigeria’s hope of winning yet another medal at the 2013 IAAF World Athletics Championships, was dashed Monday evening when Blessing Okagbare failed to live up to expectations in the women’s 100 metres final race.
She finished in a disappointing sixth position in a race won by Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce who reclaimed her World 100m title she lost to American Carmelita Jeter in 2011.
Okagbare, fresh from silver in Sunday’s long jump, faded badly and finished sixth at 11.04 seconds ahead of American duo Alexandria Anderson and Octavious Freeman.
Fraser-Pryce, who was flawless, stopped the clock in 10.71 seconds to win the women’s 100m at the 14th World Athletics Championships inside the Luzhniki Olympics Stadium. The double Olympic gold medallist and 2009 world champion, fastest in the world this season with 10.77seconds, won her heat easily in 10.87.
Jeter, who won in Deagu, said Fraser-Pryce “ran a great race.”
“I will never take that away from her,” said Jeter of Fraser-Pryce, who add to Usain Bolt’s 100m victory and Nesta Carter’s bronze on Sunday night.
Murielle Ahoure of Ivory Coast 10.93 was second while dethroned champion Jeter got third in 10.94.
Another Jamaican Kerron Stewart finished fifth in 10.97.
Earlier Monday, Okagbare advanced to the final of the women’s 100m at the World Championships in her bid to become the first Nigerian to win double medal in the IAAF World Championships.
But she faced a tough test against two in-form Jamaicans and a quartet of Americans led by defending champion Carmelita Jeter.
Okagbare, fresh from silver in Sunday’s long jump, won her heat in 11.08seconds beating her opponent from American Octavious Freeman, while Ahoure came in second to Jeter in 10.95seconds.
