COULD THERE BE A GOLD MEDAL FOR BLESSING IN MOSCOW?
I am officially going on record saying that Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare is in the medal hunt for the women’s 100-metres in Moscow. I will further go on record saying that Shelly Ann Frazer-Pryce had better get it right there or else the John Smith-coached Nigerian sprinter/long jumper could possibly take the coveted gold medal.
Okagbare was dragged kicking and screaming from the tiny little town of Texas El Paso where she attended school back in 2011 as her shoe sponsors Nike wanted to have Smith, the sprint guru, mould her prodigious talent into something spectacular.
The Nigerian had been quite content to remain in El Paso but made the move. It paid off almost immediately as she made it to the Olympic finals in London last year. She finished last but not to be overlooked was the time -11.01s- that she produced in the finals after taking her semi-final heats in 10.92s.
Fast forward to the new season and Blessing came has come out showing that she is an improved model. In May in Shanghai, she chased down and caught Carmelita Jeter, the reigning world champion, but finished second to Frazer-Pryce in 10.96. Jeter pulled up with an injury late in the race but there can’t be any doubt that injury or not, it seemed as if the Nigerian was going to pass Jeter regardless. At the Prefontaine Classic in Oregon in June, on a fast track and in ideal sprinting conditions, she blazed to a 10.75 clocking in slightly windy conditions, 2.2 m/s, storming past Veronica Campbell Brown to once again take second behind Jamaica’s pocket rocket who won in 10.71.
The greatest indicator yet that she has been closing the gap between herself and the two-time Olympic 100-m champion was in Paris on July 7 when Okagbare stormed through the field late to finish 0.01 seconds shy of Frazer-Pryce’s 10.92. In was even more instructive that had she run through the tape she could have handed the Jamaican darling her first loss over the 100 metres this season. Instead, perhaps too eager for the line, she started dipping from 10 metres out and almost fell but still lost by the smallest of margins.
I know we can all argue that Frazer-Pryce did not get a great start, but neither did the Nigerian, who closed like a runaway train. She beat Frazer-Pryce going 200m just over a week before and it is clear she is not intimidated by the Jamaican or anyone else for that matter. It can also be argued that Frazer-Pryce is in preparation mode for the World Championships and is not at her sharpest, but we can also assume that Okagbare is in similar mode five weeks before the start of the championships on August 10.
It is likely that Jeter will not be factor in Moscow, given that she has looked quite ordinary in the two 200-metre races she has had since coming back from the injury she suffered in Shanghai. There will also be no Campbell-Brown who is facing possible suspension from competition and that opens up the field in the women’s short sprint.
The field should look something like this: Frazer-Pryce, Kelli-Ann Baptiste, Kerron Stewart, Ivet Lalova, Murielle Ahoure, and perhaps English Gardener, Sherone Simpson. In this field as is, only one athlete is this year better in the 100 metres than the Nigerian, who has beaten everyone this season over the 100m and 200m.
Will the rounds be a factor? Perhaps. But with the Nigerian being stronger and faster than ever, her exertions should be minimal advancing to the finals. Should that be the case, it’s hard to see anyone except Frazer-Pryce getting the better of her. If not, the gold could very well be hers.
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29 Responses to “COULD THERE BE A GOLD MEDAL FOR BLESSING IN MOSCOW?”
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I agree with you Levy I have been watching Blessing thinking that her progression looks ripe for a medal. Shelly should not only be in peak form for the Championships but she has to pull everything together from start to finish. However, I think Okagbare wants it more so I’ll give her the edge.
Blessing is nice , no doubt , but i still maintain that Shelly will beat her 8 times out of 10 at the 100m due to how she establishes herself early and the Nigerian will always be playing catchup.
Blessing gonna need a huge PB to turn the tables in Mosc
Please do not get it twisted Shellyann will not lose the 100m this year, blessing is not in Jeter or vcb class yet so do not compare shellyann with blessing. Shellyann is working on the 200m this season only Jeter can beat shellyann and jeter is just coming back from injury, Shellyann will win 100m and 200m very easy this season. Shellyann like usain bolt are championship performers and you should look at the tapes and the times and record of both sprinters before you write, please you youtube to find reference so you can make good judgement.
Blessing will need a good start, a killer drive phase and wicked finish to upset the pocket rocket. In any event, I’d prefer Blessing do it that one of those Americans
I am liking Blessing a lot since I first saw her in Shanghai in May.
She has those long strides that could catch the pocket rocket(in the 100M or 200M) in Moscow next month.
Blessing is blessed .
Blessing, Her bones are young. Next Olympic, with that special name “Blessing” her entire family is marked for success in life. She runs
10.60sec next Olympics. Moscow, 10:68sec.
Shelly will fight but lack the muscles to endure pass 90 meters mark. If kerron Stewart had lost the 10 necessary pounds and replace with muscle, she could have been Jamaica’s finest, but she is carrying too much weight the last 6 yrs, and without change in here weight program will never reach her dreams. She has the height to deliver the strides, and built to produce power once the weight is replaced my muscle weight. A year in gym with new focus could transform Ms Stewart to low 10.60s.
Nobody is getting it twisted because nobody says Shelly will not win. But if go by your argument we dont even need to run the race? Can you tell what will happen in the future? All I am suggesting is a possibility. If you dont think its possible then fine, but I urge you to look at the races between Shelly and Okagbare this season and bear in mind who her coach is.
As for your assumption that Shelly will win the 200m easy, I beg to differ because I believe a certain Alyson Felix might have something to say about that.
I love Blessing but that young lady cannot handle rounds, and will burn out when the final comes around, as usual, Shellyann will win the 100m in Moscow if she stay healthy and don’t false start, Jeter is the only one that have a chance against Shelly-ann, if she’s healthy. Felix is not running well, so I don’t know why the gold medal is handing to her, I believe Shelly-ann might win the double in Moscow.
I beg to differ, My bet is for Ms. Fraser Pryce to take the double!!! She will spring a surprise for Felix
In reply to Sue. If you think Blessing wants the win more than Shelly, then you have no idea who the pocket rocket is. Think back a couple Olympics ago when no one was expecting Shelly to win. Her hunger for gold has not lessened, it has only increased in my opinion. Blessings push will give Shelly her PR in the 100m. Mark my word. She will be away after 20 meters and Blessing will track but never catch her, just like Jetter tried.
As for the 200m, I think this will be a lot more open. Felix is not in top form but she will still be the person to beat especially with VCB not around. Like Shelly, she is a big meet performer. If she doesn’t show up, Shelly or Blessing will upset but I think they will make the top 3.
Sad Jetter isn’t herself to add to the fun!! This should be an exciting world games.
Did anyone not see how Blessing closed down SaFP at the last diamond league 100m? As one who is very competitive when it comes to sport, nothing motivates a person who always finishes behind like a ” narrowing the gap” on your opponent. Yes I agree Blessing is definitely hungry and fearless of who she is up against. Yet Shelly is a ” ghetto girl” so will fight and win.
Blessing will choke in the finals just as she did last year. IT takes more than speed to become a champion
Agree. She does choke and does so big time .
You need to show me the evidence of her choking.
Shelly usually gets ready, For the big moment. She will be out of the blocks like they shoot her out of a cannon as the gun is fired. once she gets that start, by the time they catch her, she will be over line that’s for the 100m, not sure about the 200m. She might just spring a surprise.
Mr Levy, I must have to say that I do not agree with you this time and we will have to agree to disagree. I have been saying from the start of this season that this is the best form I have seen Shelly. In other seasons, you will see other athletes beat her sometimes on the circuit but when it comes to championships, Shelly is like a Usain Bolt, they not only show up but show up big time. Do you remember this young lady who came third at the trials and some Jamaicans did not want to give her a chance and she went to Olympics and won and has consistently done well at all the Championship events except (2011) the year when she just recouping from her surgery and placed fourth at the Championships, this after being out for a while and having surgery. So let us not fool ourselves, yes Blessing has beaten Shelly and may look good but on D-day, SFP will show her true class as a champion and demolish that field. Only thing that can stop her is if she gets injured even if Jeter was fit, SFP would still take it as she looks to be in spanking form so far this season. We can never use one race to jump to say that this person will win, it is a lot more factors and I do not “care” who her coach is, it comes down to the person’s mental toughness and who wants it more on the day and rest assured I have just described SFP. I know you said the possibility exists but I still do not agree and well August 10th is just around the corner so we will all see.
Seems like we have loads of fortune teller on site here. No one can say who will win an event no matter how highly ranked they are, we can only use their form as a guide to declare them as favourites. Because if I remember correctly Usain lost the Daegue 100m not at the line but failed to contest the event, not predicting that to happen to Shelly of course.
Anyway its been a few years now I’ve been watching this Blessing and if the observer is intelligent enough its not hard to see that we’re looking at a superstar (long jump as well). The potential has always been there, she only needed a proper organisation to put all the parts together – seems like they’re getting there. Even at London 2012 I thought she would’ve caused an upset – but she probably failed mentally (that seems to be her weakness though).
I am expecting Mrs Pryce to do well however and it seems as if Nesta and Karen Stewart are finally finding their way back from difficult injuries. Also looking forward to the quarter mile redemption, seen a young kid do 45:85 to take gold recently hope we can find another half dozen including girls to give us more power.
It is refreshing to know that Blessing is now getting the recognition she deserves. As a keen observer of Blessing since 2008, I think she’s improved a lot. Whether she will beat Mrs Pryce for gold in Moscow is a function of her body and mind on that day. She picked up a knock in her olympics semi and that told on her in the final. There in lies Blessing’s problem; she’s good in 3 events. She’s in the medal mix for long jump and 200m. If she decides to go for all 4 events (100,200, LJ and 4×100), then I fear it may tell on her body. I however think it will be painful to see her miss any of the events.
The form book for 100m right now is firmly favoring SAFP. However, Blessing’s ability to chase down SAFP is frightening by the day. I have watched the duel between the this season. The gap between them have been steadily reducing per meet (0.07s in China, 0.04s in Eugene, 0.01s in Monaco). They meet this Saturday in London. I predict a very tough race there, the winner of that will have the mental edge going to Moscow.
Nigerianfan what do you say about that 100m race in London on Saturday … Did Shelly put everything in the semi and had nothing in the tank for the finals or was Blessing’s hunger, peak form and focus that drove her to the tape ahead of SAFP?
Sue, the 100m in London was a psychological victory for Blessing going to Moscow. Almost everything wrong with her race was corrected in the final. I am very happy that we will have a competitive women’s 100m with no certain winner. Shelly said after the final that she tried to stimulate two consecutive fast times in 2 hours, and she failed. Blessing did that and looked effortless. That is wherein the difference lies. Blessing has had a ‘quantum leap’ in terms of her recovery. I dont think there’s much to separate the two ladies in terms of speed. Shelly ran 10.77, Blessing ran 10.79. The two ladies are in peak form, Blessing seems to be hungrier, both are focused.
In Moscow, it will all come down to who can conserve energy the most. The two sprinters should have no problems making the final. Only problem for Blessing is that the long jump final is on the same day as the 100m heat. The 100m final is less than 24 hours after the long jump finals. Blessing is good for gold in LJ and will go for it. So, while Blessing is sweating it out for the LJ, SAFP is resting preparing for the 100m final. Tricky!
It is great that she is now running well and a real threat to shelly-ann in the 100M. My only comment is that she certainly seem to be running a lot like marion Jones, meaning when all the other athletes are decelerating she is accelerating, don’t get me wrong my only hope is that style is natural and not aided by undetected stuff. Let us also remember Marion Jones never tested positive for anything.
Arsenalfan this sounds again like the typical Jamaican myopia. So Shelly isnt running like Marion Jones too. Blessing is not accelerating. Her speed endurance and strength have improved. Is that so unusual? Come on. Jamaica can no longer lay claim to being a ‘clean’ country when it comes to track. pick the plank out of your eye my friend.
I’m not insinuating anything but it’s amazing that Blessing has gotten everything right in one year and is now beating all the top sprinters. She finished last at the Olympics and now is a hot favorite to win gold.
So Suzette she must run on the spot for you not to be suspicious? ShellyAnn moved from 11.31 to 10.78 in one season, didnt that strike you as being odd? I am not casting doubts about Shelly but am using her an example of how hypocritical we can be. Blessing ran 11-flat in the finals last year and 10.99 in the semis. So she got stronger and faster a year later, what’s there to be surprised or suspicious about? Last year was also her first year with John Smith, one of the best sprint coaches in the world, and who has coached many stars including Ato Boldon and Maurice Greene as well as Carmelita Jeter. What is he doing now with Blessing that he hasn’t done before? Could it not be that Blessing is a very talented athlete who excels at the Long Jump an event in which she medalled in London last year and the sprints as well?
And for the record, she has not got everything right. If she did, she would be running 10.6s by now. She still has a lot of mechanical flaws including her first 30 metres.
The gold is Shellyann’s so blessing can’t havet, not yet.
Shellyann is always hungry, Lets call her greedy. She is healthy and has been running well, she now knows that Blessing has stepped up her game, She will also step up her game.I believe it will be a close race, but Shelly will have the edge, she is strong willed and determined.
People talk about Blessing’s long strides, every other athlete has longer strides than Shelly, look at Jetter for example. Shelly can turn her shorter strides over more Quickly than any other athlete. She also peaks in time for the final of the big events.
Please let us not link the athletes with doping until they are caught. wada is doing everything to stop the practice. talk to you allwhen the best woman wins. One love ALL