Blessing Okagbare on Saturday started her outdoor season with an impressive 22.04 secs in her 200 m race at the Wes Kittley Invitational Track and Field Meet at the Abilene Christian University , which erased the 22- year- old previous African record of 22. 07secs set by Mary Onyali at a Meet in Switzerland in 1996.
Cierra White followed in second place in 23.26 secs while Natasha McDonald settled for third in 24. 23secs .
Apart from becoming the new African record , Okagbare ’s winning time also becomes the new national record in the women ’s 200m . Okagbare ’s previous personal best in the event was 22.23 secs was set at the 2014 Eugene Diamond League .
With her latest exploit, it means that Okagbare now holds the Nigerian records in the women ’s 100 m ( 10. 79secs ) and 200m . Okagbare did not compete in the indoor season , which started in January. The Wes Kittley Invitational was her first competition of the season.
The 26-year -old is one of the 37 athletes listed by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria to participate at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia , which begins on April 4.
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