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Foreign athletes flood Warri for CAA Grand Prix

By Gowon Akpodonor
22 July 2015   |   11:09 pm
Maurice Green leads US-based stars to Nigeria A large number of athletes from both foreign and local have flooded the city of Warri, Delta State, for this year’s edition of the CAA/Warri Grand Prix. It will hold tomorrow between 11am and 5pm at Warri City Stadium. But Nigeria and Commonwealth reigning queen of track, Blessing…
US-based 400m runner, Regina George, among athletes in Warri for the CAA/Warri Grand Prix.

US-based 400m runner, Regina George, among athletes in Warri for the CAA/Warri Grand Prix.

Maurice Green leads US-based stars to Nigeria

A large number of athletes from both foreign and local have flooded the city of Warri, Delta State, for this year’s edition of the CAA/Warri Grand Prix. It will hold tomorrow between 11am and 5pm at Warri City Stadium.

But Nigeria and Commonwealth reigning queen of track, Blessing Okagbare-Ighoteguonor, will be missing, following her engagement in the Diamond League in London.

However, Okagbare is expected in the country next week to battle for tickets with other Nigerian athletes for a place in both the IAAF World Championship in Beijing, China and the All African Games holding in Congo Brazzaville.

Already on ground in the oil city is former World and Olympics champion, Maurice Green, who led a cream of US-based Nigerian athletes into the country on Tuesday’s night. Green jetted in alongside top athletes including Olivia Ekpone and speed star, Gloria Asumnua.

Other athletes to compete for Nigeria include ‘improved’ 400m runner, US-based Regina George, Dominque Duncan, Doreen Amata, Samson Idiata, Chiwe Okoro, Patience Okon, Ogho-Oghene Egwero and Obina Metu.

Technical Director of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Navy Commodore Omatseye Nesiama, told The Guardian yesterday that over 71 athletes from different parts of the World are already on ground for the one-day event.

They include American sprinter, Albert Huntley, Great Britain’s male triple jumper Kola Adedoyin and compatriot, Nathan Fox (also a male triple jumper), nine athletes from Botswana, eight from The Gambia, eight from Ghana, two from South Africa, two from Zimbabwe, two from Namibia, and one each from the United Arab Emirates, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Mozambique.

A board member of the AFN, Olukayode Thomas, who also spoke with The Guardian yesterday, stated that all logistics have been put in place to make the even a hitch-free.

The meet’s premium events are the Men- 100m, 400m, Women- 100m, 400m, 400m H with the winner going home with $4,000.
Nesiama however stated yesterday that the prize money for some of the events have been downgraded in line with IAAF rules.

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