Olympic and World Championships
medallist, Blessing Okagbare, on Thursday led team Nigeria into the
finals of the women’s 4x100m relay at the Olympic Games after posing a
42.55sec finish.
The Nigerian quartets, made up
of Okagbare, Gloria Asumu, Jennifer Madu and Agnes Osazuwa, came second
in heat two behind Germany who clocked 42.18sec.
U.S team crashes
The United States women’s 4×100 relay team, who ran in the same heat as the Nigerians, dramatically crashed out of the Olympics.
The defending Olympic champions tumbled
out in their opening heat after a bungled second baton changeover
between Allyson Felix and English Gardner.
Replays of the exchange were
inconclusive, although Felix appeared to stumble and grimace before she
reached Gardner to hand over the baton.
In the other semi-final, Jamaica stormed to victory in 41.79sec.
The Jamaican women – including
heavyweight veterans Veronica Campbell-Brown and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce
– were pushed all the way by Britain, who finished in 41.93sec.
Jamaica’s newly crowned 100m and 200m champion Elaine Thompson sat out the heat but will return for the final.
