Louisville, Ky. - Former University of Louisville track and field athlete Chinwe Okoro made history recently while competing in the 2014 African Athletics Championships. Okoro, a Cardinal from 2007 until 2011, took gold in the discus by throwing a Nigerian national record of 59.79m. Prior to breaking the record, Okoro owned a 58.25m personal-best, and entered the competition with a season-best of 57.83m.
The outstanding performance allows Okoro to defend her title at the competition's discus throw. Before this year's edition of the championships, which were held in Marrakech, Morocco from Aug. 10-14, Okoro took gold the last time the event was held, in 2012 in Porto Novo, Benin.
A native of Darien, Ill., Okoro put together an illustrious career at U of L. A three-time USTFCCCA All-Academic Team honoree, Okoro became one of the first female athletes to win a national title at the USA Junior Championships, when she won the shot put title as a freshman in 2007-08. Her most successful season came in 2010-11, when Okoro was named an All-American for the outdoor season of her senior campaign.