2023 Commonwealth Youth Games: Okwose, Eyakpobeyan, Ogazi through to 200m semifinals
Faith Okwose’s bid for a sprint double title at the onging Commonwealth Youth Games in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago got off to a perfect start on Wednesday evening when she ran the fastest time in qualifying for the semifinal.
The 17 year old, Budapest-bound sprinter ran 23.64 to win the third heat of the first round and will be aiming to break compatriot, Praise Idamadudu’s 23.30 Games record when she files out for the semifinals later Wednesday night.
If she runs faster than Idamadud’s record, it will be a lifetime best for the Delta state athlete who holds a lifetime best of 23.31 in the event.
Okwose, it would be recalled set a new 11.26 Games record to win the 100m title on Monday and she will be joined in the 200m semifinal by Justina Eyakpobeyan who ran 24.10 to place second in her first round heat.
Eyakpobeyan holds a 23.53 personal best in the event which she set last month at the Nigerian championships.
In the men’s version, Samuel Ogazi will be seeking to qualify for the final after running 21.91 to qualify for the semifinal alongside Okon Israel Sunday who ran 21.35 to place second in his first round heat.
Ogazi, winner of the 400m event on Tuesday will be seeking to successfully win a 200m/400m double. He will however battle Scotland’s Dean Patterson who ran the fastest time (21.32) qualifying in the first round.
The 17 year old Nigerian holds a 20.93 lifetime best in the event which he set in winning the 200m title at the African U18 championships in Ndola, Zambia in May.
