Games 1-2-3 for versatile Nigerian girl

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33448, 1 February 1974, Page 8

Games 1-2-3 for versatile Nigerian girl

The versatile Nigerian, Modupe Oshikoya, claimed her third—and most prized—medal when she came from behind to win the women’s long jump yesterday.

A splendid leap of 6.46 m (21ft 2.| in) assured Miss Oshikoya of victory. Earlier in the afternoon she had finished third in the final of the 100 m hurdles; last Friday she was second in the pentathlon. Brenda Eisler (Canada) had led after the first round, with 6.34 m. A later jump of

6.38 m was not sufficient to overhaul Miss Oshikoya, although it did give Miss Eisler the silver medal on a count-back from Ruth Mar-tin-Jones (Wales). Miss Oshikoya’s distance was a New Zealand open record, but was short of Sheila Sherwood’s Games mark of 6.73 m. The English competitor was. seventh on this occasion. The New Zealander who led the qualifiers on Tuesday with 6.37 m, Pam Hendren, could not match her earlier efforts; her best leap of 6.11 m gave her ninth placing. And her team-mate, Susan Burnside, was eleventh, with 5.58 m. A second national open record—and the defeat of another title-holder—came in

the pole vault. Don Baird, ! an Australian who has been ' living in West Germany for ’ the last two years, cleared ' 5.05 m (16ft 6 in) and finished ahead of the Edinburgh ; champion, Mike Bull (North- ! ern Ireland), and Brian Hooper (England). The New Zealand repre- ■ sentative, Peter Tracey, was i fifth of the six competitors, ; setting a resident record of 4.60 m (15ft lin).