The Guardian (Nigeria)

Brume, Usoro To Clash As Athletics Event Begins At African Games

- By Gowon Akpodonor

ONE

event that will catch the attention of many Africans in track and field at the ongoing 13th African Games is the women’s long jump, where the battle for the gold medal is expected to be between three Nigerians.

The athletics event will begin tomorrow at the University of Ghana tracks, and the trio of Ese Brume, Ruth Usoro and Prestina Ochonoghor will be the cynosure of all eyes.

If her pre- championsh­ip performanc­e is anything to go by, Usoro, with her leading jump of 6.87m in Africa this year, is favoured to win the title.

The U. S.- based Usoro is in Accra to compete in her first African Games. It will bek a great opportunit­y for athletics fans, who had long been waiting to see a clash between Usori and Brume can finally have the chance.

However, U. S.- based Brume, an Olympics bronze medalist, who has 6.84m jump this season, feels the title belongs to her.

“I’m aiming for my second All Africa Games,” Brume Mainland metro news after training at the University of Ghana warm up tracks earlier this week.

Brume is the current African women long jump record holder, and she is hoping to win a back to back African Games gold Ghana.

Since 2015, when Brume missed the podium in Congo Brazzavill­e, she has gone on to achieve great things in the event, including a 7.17m Personal Best, a hat- trick of African Championsh­ips, a sliver and bronze in the World Championsh­ips and a bronze in the Olympics. LP

If she get her tactics right, many believe Brume is the woman to beat in the long jump.

The fans would probably be treated to a Nigerian 1,2,3 in the women’s long event.

Meanwhile, AFN Technical Director, Samuel Onikeku, has said the last batch of foreignbas­ed athletes, including the likes of Tobi Amusan will arrive in Accra today.

In a message to The

Guardian, yesterday, Onikeku said: “Ruth Usoro has been around since three days now. The last batch of athletes will arrive tomorrow morning ( today). Athletics event starts tomorrow, March 18.

 ?? ?? Long jumper Ese Brume and Ruth Usoro set for the big clash in Ghana
Long jumper Ese Brume and Ruth Usoro set for the big clash in Ghana

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