Track queen Mary Onyali and her father-in-law, Jimmy Omagbemi, share similar stories of their early years before kissing stardom. And both ended up in American universities. The old man passed on in Texas, the lady passed out from Texas Southern University.
When I met Omagbemi at the National Stadium, Surulere Lagos in 1990, he regaled me with stories of his grandmother, Nene. As a kid in Warri, it was fun going on errands for white sailors who frequented the Warri port. It was from those seamen that the boy won his first prize as a sprinter and that shaped the future.
Onyali, the first of six children, lost her dad at three years in 1971. At home in the then East Central State, there was an uncle that always came in from Lagos with lots and lots of biscuits and sweets. He had a way of distributing the goodies. Little Mary’s legs helped her a lot and she ran faster than even boys to the admiration of all.
In Warri, the white men came ashore and organized races for the kids. It was meant to keep them fit for little errands about town. And there was money to reward the best. Omagbemi was the boy to beat. He earned pennies from the sailors after dusting everyone else. The pennies, he showed to grannie Nene who was so proud of her little boy.
As kids, Omagbemi and Onyali were champions in their respective places of abode although so many decades apart They grew up with that, became champions later in life and were going to meet in Lagos. The former paved the way for the latter to earn scholarship in the United States in 1985 with his son, Victor. Ten years later, Victor Omagbemi got married to Mary Onyali.
The senior Omagbemi was at the Cardiff ’58 Commonwealth Games where he won silver in the 4×100 yards as part of the Nigerian relay team. He was also an Olympian having taken part at Rome ’60 and Tokyo ’64. The Nigerian 4×100 team also included Folu Erinle, Abdulkarim Ohiamai Amu and Sidney Asiodu, who would be murdered in 1967 during the Asaba genocide.
Omagbemi caused a stir in 1959. At the European Championships, he participated as an invitee and won the 100 metres race beating Armin Harry of Germany. The problem was how to give the European title to an outsider from Africa who was only invited for the fun of it. No one thought about Omagbemi becoming European champion when he was not from that continent and did not represent any country within.
Harry was eventually declared winner. Omagbemi had to live with that experience and he proudly decalred to me: “I beat Armin Harry and caused discomfort for Europe”.
Omagbemi later taught at Ibadan Grammar School in the mid 1960s before journeying to America. He became popular at San Jose State University and it was there that he had Victor on May 22, 1967.
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Onyali improved on her father-in law’s record. She won a Commonwealth gold medal in 1994. It was in the 100 metres. The queen took part in five consecutive Olympic Games, from Seoul ’88 to Athens 2004. Two medals came her way. At Barcelona ’92, the 4×100 quartet that included Beatrice Utondu, Faith Idehen and Christy Opara grabbed the bronze. An individual medal arrived at Atlanta ’96, in the 200 metres.
Onyali was discovered at St. Mary’s Anglican Primary School, Ojo. she proceeded to Amuwo Grammar School. She is one of the proud products of Ajegunle [AJ] City. Her skills were honed by coach Tobias Igwe [Toblow], the same man who nurtured Davidson Ezinwa and Uchenna Emoedolu among many other champions.
Her first international trip was to Ghana in 1983 where to her disappointment, she was registered for the 4×100 metres relay instead of 100 and 200 metres. That experience emboldened her to challenge the established names and earn her place as the best.
The opportunity to excel came at the National championships in 1985. Running as an Invited Junior Athlete [IJA], she emerged as the fastest woman in Nigeria. That feat was repeated in 1986. The climax came in 1987 when Onyali became the first Nigerian woman to become national champion three times consecutively in the 100 metres..
Before her Utitifon Ukoh had won twice in 1977 and 1978. Rufina Uba was champion twice consecutively in 1981 and 1982. None of them was able to do it thrice. Onyali did in 1987 beating former champions Linda Eseimokumoh[1984] and Rufina in the final race. She also dusted two former World Junior champions, Falilat Ogunkoya and Tina Iheagwam who settled for silver and bronze respectively.
Onyali was African champion for long and led Nigeria to win the All Africa Games for the very first time at Abuja 2003. She also captained Nigeria at the Athens 2004 Olympics, thus becoming the first Nigerian to take part in five Olympic Games. Unfortunately, she was unable to win an IAAF World Championships medal after her silver and bronze as a Junior in Athens, Greece in 1986.
Her husband, Victor, was also African champion in the 100 metres in 1992. In 1991, he missed a World Championships medal by a whisker when the Nigerian 4×100 team that also paraded George Ogbeide, Olapade Adeniken and Davidson Ezinwa finished fourth in Tokyo, Japan.
Mary and Victor have two children, male and female. Onyali adores her mom. In 1986, the sprinter bought land for the mother and further winnings enabled her to complete the house in Lagos which they regard as home. She holds the national honour of Member of the Federal Republic [MFR] and runs a sport fashion line Yali Yali. The Mbaukwu community honoured her with the chieftaincy title of ‘Ukwujioso’ [Fast leg].
