Record
By Modupe Oremule
Lagos, April 27, 2018 (NAN) Jeremiah Jakpa, a budding sprinter who specialises in the 100m and 200m sprints, says his wish is to surpass Soji Fasuba’s 9:85 seconds 100m record set in 1997.
The 20-year-old Jakpa told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos that he was optimistic that he could break the record through hard work.
“Five years from now, school should be over for me. So, for me, I want to break the 100m African record which I am sure I can do.
“And if I can do that, who says, I can’t win a medal or even a gold medal at the Olympics, “the ARCO Group sponsored athlete said.
The University of Port Harcourt undergraduate told NAN that sports had made him popular in school, adding that it wasn’t easy combining both.
“There was a time that my school mates said that they saw a video of me and were like I have gone far, that I am a big boy.
“I told them that they were a lot of people combining both and that soon, they will get to see me make history,’’ he said.
Jakpa added that combining both education and sports have taught him how to manage his time.
“It has not been easy because school has disrupted some things sports-wise, sport has also disrupted some things school-wise, but my solace is my sponsor.
“I don’t even have time for frivolous things, I try to manage my time well,’’ he said. (NAN)
MJO/ERO/PIO
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(Edited by Emmanuel Okara/Idonije Obakhedo)