Daily Independent (Lagos)
25 May 2011
Nigeria’s athletic coaches have commended the brilliant running form of US-based female 100m runner, Oludamola Osayomi who won the third successive race on her comeback in spectacular fashion at the “Grande Prêmio Internacional Caixa São Paulo”, an Area Permit Meeting that is part of the 2011 Brazilian Athletics Tour at the weekend.
Frontline athletic coach, Tobias Igwe expressed gratitude in the new found form of the athlete that recently served out a six months suspension for the use of banned stimulant methylhexanamine.
Osayomi, 24, stormed to a personal best time of 10.99 secs (+1.8) at the 725m elevation of São Paulo becoming the fourth woman to run below 11 seconds in 2011 (American Carmelita Jeter is the world leader with 10.86).
Speaking with Daily Independent in a recent chat Igwe said Osayomi’s latest effort was good for the country ahead of the All Africa Games in Maputa, he however advised the Athletic Federation of Nigeria (AFN) to look for funds to support the athlete to enable her run a few races, adding that if allowed to continue with this top class performance, should might easily burn out.
“Damola is running good at the moment, the federation should endeavour to support her financially to enable run fewer races, she need to slow down, and peaking now won’t be to Nigeria’s advantage as we have about three months before the Maputo Games.”
Relishing the performance and describing it as splendid, Igwe, noted that taking this form to the All Africa Games would be a sure medal for the country in three events, 100m, 200, and 4x100m relay, stressing that the onus is on the federation to support that athlete and others who are currently doing well in maintaining their form.
Also commenting on the athlete’s performance, Coach Isaac Ekhabomen Osagie advised the federation to swiftly move to guide the athlete as her manager would drive her crazy to compete all competition based on her blistering her. He noted that the AFN’s technical department should guide Damola with wisdom in picking her races, warning that athletes compete for money, should the federation delay in backing her with enough financial grants things might go wrong even before September.
Osayomi, the reigning All-Africa Games sprint double champion had early in the week won the women’s 100m in 11.32 secs (+0.8) at the GP Caixa Sesi de Uberlândia the 3rd leg of the Brazilian Tour in the mining town of Uberlândia .
After winning the 100m in 11.31 secs, on at the Bethlehem (Belém) Grand Prix, Osayomi coming within two hundredths of the meet record (11.30) held by American Gloria Asumnu.
Osayomi was stripped of her 100m gold medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi after her B sample tested positive for a “banned substance” methylhexanamine, which has only been recently added to the World Anti-Doping Agency’s prohibited list.
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