Nigeria’s top performers on the track this season, Blessing Okagbare-Ighoteguonor and Tobi Amusan have both arrived in Nigeria ahead of the 2017 Warri Relays & CAA Grand Prix.
The 2017 Warri Relays & CAA Grand Prix which is fixed for Tuesday, July 18 at the Delta State Polytechnic Stadium, Ozoro, is guaranteed to have a rich number of top athletes on parade; some of whom are already in the country.
Okagbare, who last weekend in London ran an impressive 10.99secs in women’s 100m event is one of the star attractions even as the Sprints queen will hope to strike a better rhythm on the home front as she counts down to the World Championships in London.
For Amusan, the home crowd will have a glimpse of the hurdler who has been hugging the headlines with breathtaking performances in the circuit in the United States this season.
Among other heroics, Amusan last month, won the women’s 100m Hurdles at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) title with a new personal best time of 12.57s.
Also, former world champion in 400m, Amantle Montsho, will Team Botswana to the Grand prix.
According to a statement signed by the Meet media director, Olukayode Thomas, joining Montsho from Botswana, are the country’s male and female 4x400m teams.
Finalist at the 2008 Summer Olympics, Montsho also competed at the World Championships in Athletics and the IAAF World Indoor Championships, and is a former World Champion in the 400m, winning with a personal best time of 49.56secs in Daegu.
In a message sent to the Meet director, Yussuf Alli, Montsho expressed regret for missing the previous editions of the relays, especially the 2014 edition when she confirmed participation but missed the meet due to flight cancellation.
Meanwhile, secondary schools in Delta State are preparing for the annual relay where future world beaters showcase their talent to a continental and global audience.
“Apart from global stars like Blessing Okagbare, Amantle Montsho and others, Warri Relays/CAA Grand Prix presents budding athletes from all the nooks and crannies of Delta with a platform. Competitions to select the best from schools across the state have been concluded and the best schools will compete for medals and cash prizes in various events” said Thomas.
