Oyepitan joy at winning 200m silver
ENGLAND’S Abi Oyepitan is targeting glory at the London Olympics in 2012 after finally cracking the big time by winning 200m Commonwealth silver.
Londoner Oyepitan, 30, has seen her progress hampered by nagging injuries since reaching the final of the Athens Games in 2004.
But she returned to form in style yesterday in Delhi, outshining England team-mate Joice Maduaka and finishing second only to Cydonie Mothersill of the Cayman Islands.
Oyepitan put her improvement down to a sound preparation and immediately set her sights on challenging for medals on home soil in two years’ time.
“It’s amazing to get silver, but I wanted to have go at Cydonie. She’s got legs but I haven’t. Maybe next year,” said the Shaftsbury Barnet Harrier. “This is the first winter’s training I’ve had since 2004. I need a few winters behind me. Hopefully next year and 2012 will be good for me.”
Silver was Oyepitan’s first major medal since the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, where she was part of the 4x100m relay team that won bronze. Maduaka was narrowly beaten into fourth place yesterday by Canada’s Adrienne Power.
England’s second athletics silver of the day went to pole vaulter Steve Lewis, with team-mate Max Eaves claiming the bronze.
C’WEALTH GAMES | MEDALS TABLE
G S B Total
1. Australia 64 40 39 143
2. India 30 23 28 81
3. England 27 49 35 111
4. Canada 23 15 28 66
5. South Africa 12 11 9 32