Yes, two more standards to hit for Ruth Usoro as the Olympic Games are fast approaching. Yesterday, Feb 26th which was Day One of the Big 12 Indoor Championship, she hit a massive Personal Best of 6.82m in her last jump to rank No. 1 in NCAA, No. 2 in the World this year, No. 3 on Nigerian All-time list as well as Meet and School Record while defending her Big 12 title from last year.
Ruth who is part of the founders of Athletic Heat, has shown to be a tough athlete and a very energetic. She has also shown prowess as to what she can still deliver in the coming years.
Last year, she was amongst the 8 athletes that got support from the Sports Ministry to prepare for the Olympics and she is certainly meeting expectations. She was adopted by Chairman of Dakinda Football for Every Home Limited, Mr. Emmanuel Akpakwu.
She started her season with a bang, leaping a National Record of 14.28m in the indoor Triple Jump which was just a few centimeters from hitting Olympic standard.
We are optimistic that if she doesn’t do it at the Triple Jump on Day Two of Big 12 Champs, she will hit it by Ranking with three outdoor jumps over 13.7m, coupled with her two big indoor jumps of 14.28m and 14.07m from January. That will put her between 18-25th on ranking table.
She equally has chances of hitting the 200m Olympic standard of 22.80s. With the kind of speed and strength she possesses right now, Ruth can go under 23s in the half lap event.
She has a legal outdoor Personal Best of 23.40s and a windy 23.07s from two years ago. She can definitely hit the 200m standard too.
The World Athletics rule states that indoor performances for all field events and for races of 200m and longer, will be accepted
Ruth is the young Blessing Okagbare and we can’t wait to see her do wonders like the Nigerian legend.
