Innocent Egbunike
Innocent Egbunike ( born November 30, 1961) is a former Nigerian sprinter. In his special discipline, the 400 - meter race, he was able to achieve several international success in the 1980s.
He had his first international appearance in 1983 at the Universiade in Edmonton, where he won the gold medal in the 200 m ( 20.42 s ). At the World Athletics Championships 1983 in Helsinki he won the 200m in seventh place ( 20.63 s )
Egbunike won at the Nigerian National Championships in the 400m in 1985 and 1987.
At the Track - Africa Championships he won in 1984 in Rabat gold over 200 m, 1985 in Cairo gold in the 400m and silver over 200 meters and 1988 in Lagos gold over 400 m.
At the IAAF World Cup in 1985 in Canberra he represented his country successfully with a third place in front of the victorious Michael Franks and Thomas Schönlebe.
In the same year (1985 ) he won at the Universiade in Japanese Kobe.
The Pan-African Games in Nairobi in 1987, he won in 44.23 s outstanding gold medal in front of the Kenyans David Kitur and his countryman Moses Ugbisie.
In 1987 he recorded two more major successes. He won the Grand Prix over 400 m. With 55 points, he was well ahead of second place, the Americans Danny Everett, who came up with 40 points. At the IAAF Grand Prix Final in Brussels but was Everett with 45.28 s before Egbunike in 45.34 s victorious. At the World Athletics Championships in Rome, he won silver in 44.56 s behind Thomas Schönlebe ( 44.33 s ) and let the third placed Harry Reynolds ( 44.80 s ) far behind.
In 1988 he moved the sports festival in Zurich to a train running behind him, Harry Reynolds by extremely quickly tarnished first half to a world record in the 400 m.
Even at two Olympic Games took part Egbunike. As a finisher in the 4 x 400 - meter relay team of his country, he won in 1984 in Los Angeles in 2:59,32 min the bronze medal behind the United States ( 2:57,91 min) and the UK ( 2:59, 12 min). In Seoul in 1988 came the Nigerian season in which he was represented, at No. 7 In the individual competitions he reached in two games in the final. In 1984 he was in 45,35 s seventh, 1988 in 44.72 s Fifth 0.36 seconds behind a medal rank.
Innocent Egbunike is 1,74 m tall and weighed 68 kg in his playing days. His trademark was conspicuously strong thighs. He studied at the Pacific University in Azusa. After ending his playing career, he worked as a coach.