Another bad day for Nigerian athletes in Beijing

• George, Odele crash, Okagbare begins 200m today
It was another bad day for Team Nigeria yesterday, as one of the nation’s medals hope at the on-going IAAF Athletics World Championship, Patience Okon George, failed to make it to the final in the women’s 400m at the Bird Nest Stadium in Beijing, China.

Also yesterday, Tega Odele failed to advance to the next round in the men 200m as he finished sixth in 20.49 seconds.

After the failure by Team Nigeria’s captain, Blessing Okagbare-Ighoteguonor, in the 100m final on Monday, the hope for medal shifted to George in the 400m. But she also failed to rise to the occasion yesterday, placing fourth in her semifinal despite running a Personal Best time of 50.76 seconds.

She was beaten to the ticket by Great Britain’s Christine Ohuruogu, who was first in 50.16 seconds, Stephenie Ann Mcpherson of Jamaica (50.32 seconds) and Phillis Francis of USA (50.50 seconds). While the Nigerian recorded a personal best, Ohuruogu, Mcpherson and Francis ran their season’s best time.

Team Nigeria’s duo of Regina George and Tosin Adeloye had earlier crashed out of the 400m race in the heats.

Today, focus will be on Okagbare once again, as she attempts to make up for the failure in the 100m. Okagbare will compete in the 200m race early this morning at the Bird Nest Stadium.

She is in lane 4, heat 3, and will run alongside Maria Belim Pasaki of Greece, Jenebe Tarmoh (USA), Kimberly Hyacinthe (Canada) and Gloris Hooper of Italy.