Okagbare’s qualification for London 2017 IAAF World Championships thrills Brume 

Commonwealth and African gold medallist in women’s long jump, Ese Brume is thrilled by the qualification of compatriot, Blessing Okagbare-Ighoteguonor, whose 6.77m leap at the Istvan Gyulai Memorial in the Hungarian City of Székesfehérvár last Tuesday secured her qualification for the London 2017 IAAF World Championships.

The Sapele-born Okagbare, who had secured qualification in the 100m and 200m last month, was again in great form at the weekend at the IAAF Diamond League meeting in London, where she ran 10.99 seconds, her first sub-11 seconds performance of the season to place third behind Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson (10.94) and Dutch girl, Dafne Schpippers (10.97).

To Brume, who is in Nigeria for the national trials ahead the London 2017 World Championship, the current form of Okagbare will serve as morale boaster for other Nigerian athletes, who are preparing for the World Senior Athletics Championships in London.

Brume, who was Nigeria’s only individual that made it to the final at the Rio 2016 Olympics Games in Brazil, returned from her base in North Cyprus, where she is currently on a scholarship programme at Eastern Mediterranean University, Famagusta, studying Tourism and Hospitality management.

She told The Guardian that Okagbare is her role model, adding that she is always happy seeing her in great form. “I always have one or two things to learn from her, particularly in the jump. I am happy to hear about her qualification for the London 2017 World Championship. It will serve as morale boaster to me and other athletes,” Brume said.

Brume is hoping to use the national trials in Abuja to hit the 6.75m qualification mark for the London 2017 World championship.

Okagbare was the cynosure of all eyes on Sunday at the IAAF Diamond League meeting in London, running 10.99 seconds, her first sub-11 seconds performance of the season. She has thus raced back to reckoning ahead of the London 2017 IAAF World Championships.

It was her first sub-11 seconds performance in the 100m in over 21 months and 17th of a very storied career since she raced into the limelight in Abuja some years ago.