WAUG Sprints Champions Eye National Team

The two sprints champions of the 13th West Africa University Games (WAUG) say they are aiming for better times in their events for places in the national team.

In separate interviews the two sprinters mark orduen and Blessing Ibirah said their ultimate aim after becoming WAUG champions was to become national champions.

Mark Orduen of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, who won the men’s event, said that he was looking forward to a better time very soon.

“I cannot say I am really happy with this time, but I am looking forward to training for a better time which will make me do better at national events,’’ he said.

Orduen won the race with a time of 10.55 seconds after a photo-finish was used to separate him and Peter Odele of University of Benin.

Odele came second with 10.56 seconds, while teammate Anthony Ogede finished third with 10.58 seconds.

Orduen disclosed that his aim after the WAUG event was to prepare and work hard to make the national team.

“I can only be a better athlete by being in the national team, and I will be working toward that very soon.’’

On her part, the women’s event champion, Blessing Ibirah of University of Port Harcourt, said she was disappointed with her time in the final.

“While I am grateful to God for the race and my win, I am still disappointed with my time. I had better times in earlier races.

“In the heats, I ran 11.88, which is my personal best this year, while I ran 11.97 in the semi-final,’’ the 20-year-old final year student of Political and Administrative Studies said.

She, however, said she would be striving for a better time to have a place in the national team.

“I am aiming for the national team, even though I could only finish in the semi-finals at the recent AFN Golden League in Port Harcourt.

“I feel I can do better than this, and I will be training to get there very soon,’’ she said.Ibirah won the women’s 100 metres gold medal with a time of 12.00 seconds.

Bukola Adekunle of Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye, won the silver medal with 12.14 seconds, while Mary Esene of University of Benin, placed third with 12.19 seconds.