Olympic gold medal, Enefiok Udo-Obong is confident the pair of Blessing Okagbare-Ighoteguonor and Tobiloba Amusan will perform well at their season debut at the first leg of the 2019 IAAF Diamond League in Doha this weekend but adds that they must not be judged regardless of their finish, reports Completesports.com.
Okagbare will compete in the women’s 200m, an event where she set the African Record of 22.04s from last season. and be one of the biggest names in the field, the 30-year-old will race against the European 100m/200m Champion, Dina Asher-Smith, Phyllis Francis, Jeneba Tarmoh, Jamile Samuel and Kyra Jefferson.
Amusan competing in the 100m will race against Olympic Champion, Brianna McNeal, Christina Clemons, and 2015 World Champion, Danielle Williams of Jamaica, Sharika Nelvis, Amber Hughes and European Champion, Elvira Herman.
“It’s the first major competition of the year, so you don’t expect much from them. The two athletes you mentioned are on two different trajectories in their careers,” Udo-Obong told Completesports.com.
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“Blessing is moving downwards and Amusan is just coming up. Okagbare is still one of the best in the world. She still finished in one of the best time in the 200m last year.
“She still has speed in her legs so we should not write her off. A lot of them are still getting the cobwebs out of their system, but I feel they will do well.”
On Okagbare’s chances of reclaiming the African 100m and 200m titles, Udo-Obong believes she can do it if she’s fully fit and ready to compete.
“I believe she can reclaim it but that will be if she is ready mentally and physically. She’s a kind of athlete who likes to compete when she’s in good condition.”
By Johnny Edward
