Former UTEP Standout Okagbare Shines at IAAF World Championships

DAEGU, Korea ? Former UTEP standout Blessing Okagbare finished fifth in the women?s 100m final at the 2011 IAAF World Championships in Daegu, Korea, on Wednesday.

Okagbare, who is competing for Nigeria, ran out of the preliminary round with a time of 11.10 to automatically advance to the semifinal during the weekend. The four-time NCAA champion moved into the finals clocking at 11.22 in today?s semifinal before crossing the finish line at 11.12 for fifth place.

Also competing in the event was Oludamola Osayomi, Nigeria?s bronze medalist in the 4x100m relay at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Osayomi finished second in the third of seven preliminary heats with a time of 11.15. She did not make it out of the semifinal finishing eighth with a time of 11.58.

Churandy Martina and Ronalds Arajs competed in the men?s 100m sprint. Arajs made an early exit posting a time of 10.52 in the opening round running in a Latvia uniform.

Martina qualified automatically with a time of 10.32 running in the third of seven heats. The Netherlands native bowed out of the competition with a time of 10.29 in the semifinal. He will compete in the 200m preliminaries on Friday, Sept. 2, and as part of the 4x100m relay on Sunday, Sept. 4.

Current Miner Endurance Abinuwa will take the track on Thursday, Sept. 1, in the women?s 200m preliminary with Okagbare and a day later as part of Nigeria?s 4x400m relay. Okagbare, Abinuwa and Osayomi are all part of Nigeria?s 4x100m relay set to compete on Sunday, Sept. 4, at Daegu Stadium.

—–Video of women?s 100m race: http://youtu.be/rgmgZ2b59NU

Source: UTEP Athletics