UTEP legend Blessing Okagbare qualifies for 200m dash semis in Rio

RIO de JANEIRO, Brazil –UTEP track & field great Blessing Okagbare (Nigeria) secured a spot in the women’s 200m semifinals after being the front runner in heat five earlierMondaymorning at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

The sprinter clocked in a time of 22.71, while Great Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith (22.77) placed second to qualify in front of the Bahamas’ Anthoique Strachan (22.96).

The semifinals will be heldtomorrow, with Blessing competing in the first heat (lane 6) at 7 p.m. MT.

Blessing will also compete on the women’s long jump qualifications (6 p.m.)tomorrowbefore the 200m semifinals race.

Also competingtomorrow, UTEP sophomore Tobi Amusan (Nigeria) will race in the women’s 100m hurdles (round 1) at 8:05 a.m., while Miners’ great Churandy Martina will compete in the men’s 200m (round 1) at 8:50 a.m.