Chioma Onyekwere, the defending champion at the African Games and African Championships, saved her best performance for the year’s final major competition, becoming the first Nigerian woman to win gold in the discus throw at the Commonwealth Games.
In her fourth attempt, Onyekewere, 28, threw 61.70 meters, overtaking home girl Jade Lally, who had held the lead since the competition’s opening throw of 57.33 meters.
The Nigerian who opened with 55.82m knew she needed more than the 58.19m she threw to win the African Championships gold last June in Mauritius.
She responded without success in the second round with a 56.42m effort, fouled the third attempt before swinging the discus to a personal season’s best mark of 61.70m, her second best career mark after the 63.30m personal best she threw last year at the CVEATC, Chula Vista in California, USA.
Team Nigeria made further history by producing two medallists in the Discus Throw event for the first time with reigning Nigerian champion, Obiageri Amaechi winning the bronze medal with her 56.99m fifth round effort.
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Onyekwere has now become the second Nigerian after Adewale Olukoju to win the Discus Throw title for Nigeria in the history of the championships.
Olukoju threw 62.62m to win in Aukcland in 1990.
All focus will now shift to the men and women 100m semifinal on Wednesday, the men’s high jump and the women’s shot put final.
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