Nigeria queen of the track, Blessing Okagbare, will on Thursday, June 17, face the toughest hurdle at the National Trials as she look forward to winning her eighth national title.
The opening day of the Tokyo 2020 National Trials will see Okagbare competing in the 100m alongside one of the best kids on the track at the moment, Grace Nwokocha.
Okagbare won her last national championship in 2016, after winning it in 2009 to 2014 and also 2016, missing out only in 2015.
Despite her qualification for the Olympics, Okagbare will be hoping to continue her preparation for the games as she looks forward to another podium finish at the Olympics.
Since the likes of Damola Osayemi and Gloria Asumnu left the stage, it has been a stroll in the park for Okagbare in major finals, but will have to contend with Nwokocha who also will be on the flight to Tokyo after securing her qualification at the venue of the National Trials, the Yabatech Sports Complex, Yaba, Lagos.
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The key event for the opening day is the 100m with both the men and women final taking place in the evening.
Morning events will witness the 20km women and men final, the 100m prelims, 400m heat (men and women), 1,500m women final and the hammer women final.
Apart from the 100m finals expected to take place in the afternoon, there will be shotput men final with all eyes on Chukwuebuka Enekwechi.
Tobi Amusan will be geared up towards erasing the African Record in the women’s 100m hurdles when she takes to the track in the heat as the men 110m hurdles will be taking place also.
Other events of the opening day are javelin men final and the 5000m men final.
By Dare Esan
