Zakari goes wild in Abuja

Abuja, Nigeria -- Aziz Zakari upstaged a pair of home favourites to win the 100 metres to highlight the CAA Grand Prix d'Abuja - Area Permit Meeting - on Saturday in Abuja, Nigeria.

Zakari, who was fifth at the Commonwealth Games and second in Dakar last weekend in the event, cruised a season's best 10.15 to handily beat back Nigerians Uchenna Emedolu (10.24) and Olusoji Fasuba. Fasuba, the runner-up in the short dash in Melbourne and finalist at the World Indoor Championships in Moscow in March, was third, clocking 10.26.

Emedolu, the reigning World Cup champion in the 100, rebounded in the half-lap with a comfortable victory of his own in 20.60. Young Nigerian Ahmed Akinlawon lowered his PB to 20.84 for second, edging Ghana's Zakari by just two one-hundredths of a second.

Myriam L?onie Mani of Cameroun was the fittest sprinter on the women?s side of things, nearly scoring a double win. The 28-year-old, also a Commonwealth Games finalist in the 200, won the half-lap by more than half a second with a season?s best 23.03, with Ghanaian Vida Anim a distant second in 23.54. But it was Anim who prevailed in the 100, edging Mani by just one one-hundredth of a second in 11.33.

The highlight on the infield proved to be the women?s Hammer Throw. Ester Balassini, the Italian record holder, prevailed in a strong battle with compatriot Clarissa Claretti with a 69.87 heave, to win by 70 centimetres.
Elsewhere, James Godday gave Nigerian fans a local victory in the 400, where he prevailed in 45.35 over compatriot Saul Weigopwa?s 45.51. In February, the 22-year-old Godday joined the event?s sub-45 club with his 44.99 victory at the national championships. Ismael Kombich, who was sixth in the 1500 at the Commonwealth Games, scored a lopsided victory in the 800, clocking 1:45.62, nearly three seconds clear of fellow-Kenyan Samson Surun.
Pleasing the locals, other Nigerian winners included Selim Nuru in the 110 meter Hurdles in 13.70, Christy Ekpurkhon in the 400 (53.09), and Grace Ebor?s 2:05.40 in the 800.
Hatem Mohamed Mersal, the Egyptian record holder in the Long Jump, won his specialty with 7.92 (+0.3) leap over Gable Garenamotse?s 7.86.