US-based Nigerian sprint hurdler Divine Bamgboye missed out on the podium at the final of the 100m hurdles held on Friday at the ongoing CAA U18/U20 Championships in Abeokuta. 

Bamgboye said she will bounce back despite her disappointment and promised a stronger performance when next she returns. 

The US-based sprinter narrowly missed out on a podium finish in the 100m hurdles women’s U-20 final, finishing fourth in 14.79 seconds.

 Algeria’s Malak Belhadi returned a time of 14.66s, and second place went to Precious Uduvweghre of Nigeria in a time of 14.29s, with South Africa’s Tumi Ramokgopa clocking 13.52s to win the gold. 

Bamgboye was very disappointed by her performance, rating it a 3/10 in an interview immediately after the race, pointing out that her start was not good as she hit the first hurdle during the race.

She said, “I feel very bad, but I did my best. If not for the first hurdle I stumbled on, I would have done better, at least gotten a medal.”

The 18-year-old Nigerian-born hurdler explained that she will head straight to the drawing board to work on her start with her coach.

She stressed, “For now I’m going to work on that first hurdle. The rest of the game was fine; it was that first hurdle that gave me a headache, but I want to train up my start and work on it.”

Bamgboye went on to explain that with adequate training and hard work, she sees herself at the 2028 Olympics, donning the colors of Nigeria.

Bamgboye pointed out, “I think the girls are good, they are very good. The girl that came second and the girl that came first, she is a very good competitor. I hope to face her someday and win.”

100M HURDLES GIRLS U-20

Tumi Ramokgopa – RSA – 13.52s

Precious Uduvweghre—NGR—14.29s

Malak Belhadi – ALG – 14.66s

Divine Bamgboye – NGR – 14.79s”