Victoria Ohuruogu (June 2017)
Victoria Ohuruogu, was born 28th of February, 1993 and, at the time of writing only a few in the sporting public, would know she was the younger sister of Christine Ohuruogu (Born 17/5/84) the 2008 Olympic 400m gold medallist.
Victoria certainly made an impression on the small crowd of athletics enthusiasts and competitors, at Crystal Place, when she won the Southern Counties senior 400m final so convincingly, on the 11th of June 2017, despite being buffeted about by the blustery winds. Her winning time was 53.98 (Heat 54.2). The first three were Victoria Ohuruogu (Newham & Essex Beagles) 53.98; 2 Tara Kafke (Radley AC) 54.98; and 3 Holly Turner (Crawley AC) 55.19.
Victoria’s time of 53.98 would match her fastest time of the year, to that date, of 53.95, that she did at Newham on the 7th of May. Regarding the Crystal Palace final she remarked “I was hoping it would be a bit faster but I’ll take it.’
Victoria was educated at St Edwards Secondary School and that is where it all began ‘We had athletics at school. I went to do it and, just enjoyed it and, carried on from this. I played netball but I think I preferred it because it was not a team sport’
As a U15 she ran 13.3 for the 100 and 29.3 for 200. Those two times were done at the Tate & Lyle Open meet in August 2006’
‘I did the 200 and I moved up to the 400.’ Her personal best for 200 was 24.23 at Clermont, Florida USA the 30th of April 2016. Her fastest 400 was 52.62, when wining a race at Almonte, Springs USA on the 27/4/13, as an under 23 athlete.
One should point out she achieved international recognition, as a 4x400 relay runner.
A bronze at the World Indoor Championsips at Sopot in 2014; Bronze in the European at Zurich in 2015; silver in the European Indoor in Prague in 2015 and a gold in Tallnn in the European Under 23 Championships the same year.
What did she feel was her most satifying achievement over the years?
'It was in 2010, which was my first major international vest for GB, in Singapore in the Youth Olympics’
She was then an under 20 athlete (She was 3rd in her heat with 55.56. Her fastest that year was 54.17 in Moscow on the 10th of July).
About her current coach Lloyd Cowan ‘He is brilliant. We get on very well.’
Her club Newham & Essex Beagles, that she is impressed with ‘We have a lot of people and we all turn out and run.’
She studies at UAL (University Arts off London)
‘In fine Arts & sculpture. I have one year left”
About continuing to compete?
‘ I’ll do a couple more years and see how I do.”