Guardian

A NEW national record of 63.79 metres in the Women’s Hammer event was set by Queen Obisesan over the weekend at the fourth leg of the SolidWorks/AFN Golden League Meet held at the Sports Complex of the University of Ilorin, Kwara State.

The friendly weather, coupled with the cheering crowd, which included Minister of Sports and the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi worked in favour of Obisesan as she broke the national record twice.

Obisesan was not the only beneficiary of the friendly weather and cheering crowd as quite a number of other athletes also recorded their season’s best at the meet.

Obisesan’s new record, which sent the former record of 61.75 metres to the athletics archives, would be ratified, according to the AFN Technical Director Navy Commodore Omatseye Neisiama, once the necessary dope tests were conducted.

Speaking with journalists after her feat, Obisesan gave thanks to God for helping her thus far even as she stated that she hoped   to do more in the days ahead.

“I am very happy to achieve this and I know it only means I should work harder to get better results”.

Also excited with the new record was the Sports Minister Mallam Abdullahi who told reporters that the NSC would work closely with the AFN to chart the way forward.

“It’s really exciting for me especially in the year preceding the Commonwealth Games, that offers a very good prospect and I’m already discussing with the AFN board members on how can we build on all this.

“I am glad the national trials that will soon happen will provide a basis for the selection of athletes that will represent us at these upcoming competitions.

“They are already giving me medal figures but I will keep that to myself for now. But with what I have seen today especially the girls that did the hammer, one of them set new national record, and the other two set new personal bests, that is a very good prospect,” Abdullahi noted.