The day one of the MTN CHAMPS/AFN National Trials Asaba started off at the Stephen Keshi Stadium as the men’s and women’s 100m threw up new National Champions, with Israel Okon Sunday crossing the finishing line ahead of his counterparts in the men’s race, while Olayinka Olajide claimed the women’s title ahead of others.
The event was opened by the Executive Governor of the state, Sheriff Oborevwori, who was represented by the Commissioner for Youth Development, Agbateyiniro Weyinmi Isaac.
Despite the dominance of Consider Ekanem who had stormed to an impressive 10.16s in the men’s event being the fastest time across the three semifinals, but Sunday had to push harder to finish, and his effort was rewarded with a big Personal Best (PB) of 10.26s to win his semifinal race, while former National Champion Enoch Adegoke won the third semis with 10.30s.
Touted as the new ‘Usain Bolt’ of Nigeria, Ekanem was disqualified in the final for a false start to throw the race open and Sunday had to seize his chance to run another PB of 10.20s to claim the title ahead of Nicholas Adekalu Fakorede who finished 2nd after crossing the line in 10.26s, with former national champion Adegoke coming in 3rd in 10.30s.
In the women’s event, Blessing Ogundiran clocked a fast 11.33s, just marginally off her PB of 11.32s to win Heat 3, the fastest time overall in the heats.
In the semis, Olayinka Olajide upped the stakes, posting a new PB of 11.32s and extended her dominance to the final, running the fastest time by a Nigerian woman this year, taking the women’s 100m title at the MTN CHAMPS/AFN National Trials with a new PB of 11.19s, an improvement from the 11.37s she ran last month in Lagos, while Ogundiran crossed the line in 2nd.
Faith Osamuyi was the woman to beat in the 100m Hurdles where she upstaged her more experienced rivals. She gave a glimpse of what was to come when she claimed a big scalp in the semis, holding off the late charge from Stella Ayanleke who chased her down to the finish line to record a new PB of 13.60s, a time she further lowered to 13.48s to win the final.
Hamid Sambo was not left out of the PB rain as he set a new lifetime best of 3:50.75 to win the men’s 1500m finals, while the first event of the day, the men’s 10,000m was won by Danjuma Jan of High Altitude Club in Jos, Plateau State, posting a time of 32:38.95.
Veteran Patience Okon-George put up a good showing in the women’s 400m, racing to a Season’s Best of 52.06s to top qualifications into the women’s 400m final and will be favoured to win the event ahead of the final on Day 2 of the MTN CHAMPS/AFN National Trials, which will be used to select the Nigerian Team to next month’s African Games in Accra, Ghana.
Sikiru Adeyemi was the fastest overall in the men’s 400m heats where he clocked 46.43s to win Heat 3 of the event. He was followed by Samson Nathaniel who crossed the line in Heat 5 with 46.80s, while Daniel Atinaya dominated Heat 8 with 46.83s.
The competition ends on February 21, and it serves as trials to select a team for the 13th African Games taking place next month in Ghana.
