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Nigerian triple jumper and African champion, Tosin Oke has retained his continental title with a 16.98m jump as the 18th African Senior Athletics Championships came to a close weekend in Port Novo, Benin Republic.
The former British junior champion, who is one of Team Nigeria’s medal hopeful at the forthcoming London 2012 Olympic Games in the UK, kept no one in doubt about his determination and capability to keep the title for another two years by setting the pace with a 16.54 timing and improved to 16.74 before Algerian Isamm Nima who jumped 16.68m put him on the edge.
The Nigerian got away from the pack with the winning record of 16.98m in his fifth jump, and he didn’t bother again to go for his sixth jump as Nima, who was his rival could only repeat the same 16.69 he did previously in his final jump.
The London based triple jumper who failed to meet the Nigerian national record of 17.26m held by Ajayi Agbebaku by just 0.3m in Calabar two weeks ago said he will not be under any pressure to deliver in the London Olympics Games. He stated that he will feel at home in London. “I am happy that I have retained my African title. This is part of my plan for the Olympics preparation. You know London is like Lagos to most Nigerians and I will be really at home in London. There will be no stress of any kind for me.” He said.
Oke still has the IAAF Diamond League to compete in before the Olympic Games and he is of the belief that the competition will keep him in proper shape for the games. “I still have the IAAF Diamond League to compete in July 14. As the 11th best in the event now, I don’t want to rule myself out of a medal. Anything can happen at the Olympics,” he said.
