AJOKE Muizat Odumosu yesterday disclosed that she was surprised to win the 400 metres hurdles gold at the ongoing Commonwealth Games in India because of the field she competed against.
But the United States (U.S.)-based athlete, who clocked 55.28 seconds to better her personal best of 56.86, said she felt happy to get her first Commonwealth Games medal, which incidentally was a gold. She said: “I am very excited because this is my first appearance in the Commonwealth Games.
“The time I returned didn’t really matter and all I wanted was to win, which I have been able to achieve. I feel good with the way I ended the season. I am surprised at winning the gold medal but it’s late in the season and anything can happen. I would say it was my best race, my best finish to a season.”
The hurdler said her concern for now was to get Nigeria back on the world sports map “and let everyone know that we have good sprinters.” Odumosu was on lane four and her reaction time, which was 0.246, was the third fastest. She, however, made up with a strong finish, having taken the lead in the final bend.
She was chased down the home stretch by silver medallist Child Eilidh of Scotland and Jamaica’s Nickiesha Wilson, but she never relinquished her lead.
Other Africans in the race were Cameroun’s Kaboud Mebam Madaliene Carole and Wasike Florence, who finished fifth and sixth respectively, while Maiyo Maureen Jelagat was disqualified for false start.
