Miserable friday for Nigeria in Athens

With only two women - Mercy Nku and Endurance Ojokolo - registered for the 100M event, the expectation were high especially among the accompanying officials that they would excel.

But Friday was not a good day to race for the Nigerian duo. Nku, a fastest qualifier from the first round ran against the likes of Sherone Simpson, (Jamaica) 11.09secs; Aleen Bailey, (Jamaica) 11.12secs and 40-year-old Slovenian (formerly Jamaica) Marlene Ottey, 11.24secs in the 3rd heat.

Nku had no chance finishing a miserable 5th with a time of 11.39secs. Her compatriot Ojokolo who won the 14th National Sports Festival in Abuja and complained of back injury (she carried it to the Games) did not fair any better either.

She also finished 5th with a time of 11.35secs in heat four won by Belarussian ‘wonder-girl’ Yuliya Nesterenko, 10.99secs. Nesterenko was making her second sub-11secs on the day and is already favoured for the gold medal in Saturday’s final.

Two time Olympics champion American Gail Devers,(11.31secs) and the 2001 World Champion Zhanna Block, (11.27secs) of Ukraine both struggled to make it into the semi finals tomorrow.

Among those expected to challenge Nesterenko in tomorrow's competition are Christine Arron, (France) who recorded 11.10secs to win her heat and the two Jamaican athletes, Simpson and Bailey, despite a dreadful start. Belgium's Kim Gevaret, 11.17secs also impressed.

By Jo Benson