Making of Champions (MoC) top hurdler Miracle Thompson made an impressive National Sports Festival (NSF) debut at the Edo 2020 Games, breaking the 14s barrier for the first time in her career to win Lagos State’s first Athletics medal of the festival, a Silver in the women’s 100m Hurdles.
It’s been a rain of Personal Bests (PB) for Thompson this season – her third in 2021 – with her latest PB being an impressive 13.75s which she clocked while crossing the line, before falling to the track to end her race almost prematurely. Fortunately for Thompson, her mission for the Games had already been accomplished as she had already secured 2nd position behind Team Rivers’ Grace Ayemoba who won GOLD in 13.65s, as Kemi Francis settled for Bronze in 14.01s.
Having clocked a lifetime best of 14.27s at the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) Evaluation Meet last month and then lowering her PB to 14.10s at the BetKing/3rd MoC Grand Prix, it was only going to be a matter of time before Thompson went under 14s.
She said, “I feel good, I feel grateful, I feel excited because I’ve been putting much work. The training has not been easy at all. I knew I was going to do a 13. I was supposed to do a 13 at the BetKing/3rd MoC Grand Prix but I was scared, I was afraid, because my coach has been telling me ‘You have a 13.6, a 13.7; at worst a 13.8 in you’, so I knew it was going to come. I was not surprised.”
Although she fell at the finishing line, Thompson has no complaints whatsoever since she was able to secure a podium finish: “I knew I had completed the race before I fell down because the push drove me to the finishing line, so I knew I fell at the right time”, she said.
Thompson, who is being trained by Nigerian/African Record holder in the 100m Hurdles, Glory Alozie, was pleased to acknowledge the efforts of her coach. She said, “I want to dedicate my first national medal to my mum and my coach Glory Alozie”. Hopefully, this will be the first of many more national medals for Thompson!
