…Ogundiran shines, wins first Nigerian championships individual title
Usheoritse Itsekiri on Wednesday afternoon inside the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin city emerged Nigeria fastest man in the men 100m final of the ongoing Nigeria Track and Field championships after racing home in 10.02 seconds ahead of Seye Ogunlewe (10.11) and Edo State Alaba Olukunle Akintola (10.12) while defending champion, Favour Ashe came a distance fourth (10.13).
The Canada based Athlete who was tipped for the title alongside 2022 winner Ashe, first won the title three years ago. However, the new champion failed to hit the 10.00 seconds entry standard for next month’s World Athletics Championships that will take place in Budapest, Hungary and has until July 30 to achieve the mark.
Favour Ashe was the favourite to win this year title following his status as the only man in the line up to have broken 10 seconds this year but Itsekiri, who finished eighth last year proved there is a world of difference between the NCAA circuit and the Nigerian Championships.
The duo of Godson Oghenebrume, the fastest Nigerian (9.90) over the 100m this year and third on the all-time list and Udodi Onwuzurike, the second fastest this year (9.92) snubbed the championships.
Meanwhile, Blessing Ogundiran of Edo state won her first Nigerian championships individual title when she ran to an 11.50 seconds to finish ahead of African U18 100m champion, Faith Okwose (11.51) and, surprisingly, Ese Brume (11.52).
In the 100m hurdles, Tobi Amusan expectedly strolled to her third straight Nigerian championships individual title after running 12.70 ahead of Faith Osamuyi (13.90) and Kemi Francis-Peterson (14.14).
