Nigeria Begins Gold Chase on the Track
By Duro Ikhazuagbe
Nigeria's hope for medals at the ongoing Athens Olympics begins in earnest today as the athletics events flag off.
Against the backdrop of poor runs in the other events Nigeria entered for, the nation's quest to register her name on the medals table remains the track, even at that, it is an uphill task as Nigerian runners are clearly ranked outsiders in the sprints and quarter-mile.
What is giving compatriots back home hope is the current drug scare that has scared the likes of world champion Tim Montgomery, 200m defending champion Kontastino Kenteris, Tori Edwards, world champion over 100m, Kelli White and a host of other elite athletes out of Athens.
Since 1984 when Nigeria won her first track medal in the 4x400m men's relay, it has been an upward swing. But for Seoul 88 when Nigeria returned empty handed, Barcelona 92, Atlanta 96 and Sydney 2000 were sweet songs.
Atlanta in particular erased the gold drought. Chioma Ajunwa's long jump feat remains the only gold till date in track and field. The question then is what does Athens hold for Nigerian athletes?
In the 100m sprint, where defending champion Maurice Greene is in shape for an encore both Deji Aliu and Uchenna Emedolu have no chance.
Though, Deji had some good races of late, none of the times he posted were anywhere near Greene's world record of 9.79 secs
Sadly enough, home boy Tamuno Aturidibo, who showed much promises when he won the Olympic trials in Abuja in June is down with injury and may not be able to give any push according to inside sources in the team's camp in Athens.
Olusoji Fasugba, too, perhaps may be overwhelmed by stage fright to give the elite runners a push for the crown.
At Sydney four years ago, both Deji and the late Sunday Emmanuel finished 6th and 7th respectively in the semi-finals. So the 100m title remains a battle between Greene and Asafa Powell of Jamaica and Ato Boldon of Trinidad and Tobago.
In the women's version, Mary Onyali-Omagbemi, who is attending her fifth Olympics is the only Nigerian ranked among the elites. On paper, Mercy Nku and Endurance Ojokolo have better prospects but you never can tell what Onyali can do with her wide experience on the tracks.
In Sydney, Mercy Nku was the only Nigerian who made it to the 100m semi-final stage, she eventually finished eighth. Onyali couldn't progress beyond the heat stages. With the exit of White, Edward, Ekaterini and even, Marion Jones, the 100m appears to be open.
It doesn't matter that the Americans have easily replaced Jones with the likes of Lauryn Williams and LaTasha Colander. These girls are running inside 11 secs. In the 200m, Nigeria's entries in both the male and female events are not ranked as possible medallists.
ts are clear outsiders. Perhaps, if Francis Obikwelu was still running in Nigerian colours, Team Nigeria may have been eyeing the bronze.
The battle is between Frankie Fredericks of Namibia and Shawn Crawford.
Even as we celebrate Saul Weigopwa in the quarter mile, statistics of those he is going to compete against rank him outside the medal zone. Saul's 45 secs may only guarantee him a place in the final.
American Jeremy Warner, Kelly Willie and Harris Otis are all running sub-44 secs. Jamaica's Simpson Brandon and Banda Lewis of Zimbabwe are also in contention.
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