Nigeria’s female track sensation, Blessing Okagbare is cherishing her recognition by Guinness Book of World Records, which named her as the only athlete to have attended the Athletics Diamond League competitions on a total of 67 occasions.
Megasportsarena.com reports that Okagbare, who won a bronze medal at the 2018 Beijing Olympic Games, admitted that she totally cherishes getting the record of most appearances in the IAAF’s Diamond League and thanked God for making it possible.
The 32-year-old Sapele-born athlete, who also won silver and bronze in the long jump and 200-meter events respectively at the 2013 World Championships in Moscow, Russia as well as two gold medals and a silver at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland added gratitude to Guinness World Records for recognizing her.
She reacted thus after receiving a certificate tagged OFFICIALLY AMAZING and stated: “The most appearances in Diamond League meetings by an athlete is 67 and was achieved by Blessing Okagbare (Nigeria) between 3 July 2010 and 31 August 2018.”
Okagbare’s latest recognition comes after she recorded the second fastest time in the world so far this season during the third leg of the American Track League in Fayetteville, Arizona, USA on Sunday, when she competed in the women’s 60m final.
The former African 100m women record holder raced to a big Personal Best of 7.10s to take the win ahead of Jamaica’s Christiania Williams, who equally ran a PB of 7.14s, while Teahna Daniels claimed third in 7.17s (SB).
That also saw Okagbare move up places on the 2021 Global Toplist to become the joint second fastest woman in the world at the distance alongside USA’s Javianne Oliver as well as seventh fastest Nigerian woman ever and fastest since 2012 when Gloria Asumnu ran 7.07s.
Minutes after that 60m race, Okagbare stormed to a new PB of 23.01s to win the first heat of the 200m in the second fastest time ever run by a Nigerian athlete indoors and just missing out on Regina George’s National Record (NR) from 2013.
She finished ahead of Shawnti Jackson in a World Junior lead of 23.23s and Ashley Henderson in 23.33s, while Divine Oduduru and Charles Okeze finished 5th and 7th respectively in their heats of the men’s 60m, running times of 6.70s and 6.83s.
Okagbare took to social media to celebrate the good news and posted: “A dream made a reality through God’s grace and determination. Look what finally came in the mail. Thanks to Guinness book of world records, I am indeed honoured, proud and grateful.”
