April 13, 2016 By Sahr Morris Jr.
Sierra Leonean and United States-based female athlete, Maggie Barrie, has set a new 400 metres personal best record in the outdoor season opener at a meet in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
The Ohio State University sophomore sprinter over the weekend began her 2016 outdoor season campaign on a good footing, clocking 54.77 seconds in the 400 metres (outdoor).
The young sprinter, who is yet to turn 20, and other youngsters in the United States of America have already committed to compete for Sierra Leone. Thus, one can safely say that athletics in the country is in for a renaissance.
Barrie is hoping to be part of team Sierra Leone in Durban, South Africa, for the African Athletics Championships, which is expected to come up in late June and also possibly secure a qualifying time for the summer Olympic Games in Rio, Brazil.
The young sprinter recently set a new national record in the 400 and 200 metres indoors for Sierra Leone during the just completed indoor season, after clocking a time of 23:83 seconds in the 200 metres at the Big Ten Indoor Track & Field Championships, as well as clocked 55.15 seconds to slash the national record in the 400 metres indoor race.