Reigning national 100m champion, Usheoritse Itsekiri, is looking forward to making the cut for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games after winning silver in the men’s 100m event at the ongoing 13th African Games in Ghana, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Bronze medallist at the previous edition in Rabat in 2019, Itsekiri upgraded in Accra on Tuesday, claiming silver in 10.23s, behind Cameroon’s Emmanuel Eseme (10.14s). His compatriot, Consider Ekanem, was also in the final and placed just outside the podium in fourth place in 10.42s.
The 26-year-old admitted he produced good times in Accra despite being his first outing this season and he vowed to return stronger for subsequent meets which will lead up to the Paris Olympics.
“I came here hunting for a medal, this is a medal upgrade and I’m okay with it. To make it through the rounds in my first race of the season, I came here blank headed hoping for any result but I’m happy to leave with a medal,” Itsekiri told Making of Champions.
“We have done this and there is also the world relays, after that we pick the championships one at a time and the goal is to be in Paris. We go through with the plan as it goes. Just like the African Games, I was at the last Olympics and it will be my second appearance if I make the team, so I’m just going for the upgrade. Everything we do this season is to be better than the last time.”
At the 2019 African Games in Rabat, Itsekiri rank his personal best of 10.02s
He also made it into the semi-finals of the 2020 Olympics but his 10.29s wasn’t enough to get him into the final.
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