Ogho-Oghene Egwero and Divine Oduduru were the most outstanding athletes after both churned out impressive times to win the 100m and 200m respectively in what was a thrilling 2nd AFN Golden League meet held in Sapele, Delta State.
With initial uncertainty over where the meet would take place following its withdrawal from the University of Port Harcourt because of the school’s closure, many athletes defied the torrential rainfall to compete on Saturday.
One of the best moments of the day came in the men’s 100m where Egwero got the spectators cheering after running the fastest time by a Nigeria male athlete this year, winning heat 2 in 10.15s (+2.3). Fans appreciated his efforts with an applause, and the former Nigerian champion will now be aiming to reclaim the national title and also hope for a good outing at the Rio Olympic Games.
Oduduru finished with the second fastest time and placed 2nd overall having won heat 1 clocking 10.38s, while Tega Odele who finished 2nd in the same heat 1 was 3rd overall clocking 10.42s. Particularly impressive was the junior athlete, Raymond Ekevwo who won heat 5 in a time of 10.56s.
If the 100m belonged to Egwero, 200m was for Oduduru who came very close to matching his Personal Best of 20.45s. Odururu ran the fastest time in the heats clocking 20.77s, but it was in the final that he gave his best. The 2015 African Games Silver medallist stormed to victory crossing the line in 20.47s (+3.4) and was so elated seeing his time that he raced back almost 50m still celebrating. Egwero and Odele finished 2nd and 3rd in 21.08s and 21.15s respectively.
Meanwhile in the women’s category, Isoken Igbinosun did the double to win the 100m and 200m. Igbinosun who has been knocking on the door for a long time ran the fastest time in the 100m heats to win in 11.50s, with Agnes Osazuwa 2nd overall having won a stacked heat 3 in 11.52s and Alphonsus Aniekeme 3rd overall in 11.60s finishing 2nd in that same heat.
Igbinosun went on to win the women’s 200m final, clocking 23.69s (+2.4) with Mercy Ntiaobong 2nd in 23.84s and Osazuwa 3rd in 24.13s.
Grace Ayemoba followed up her win at the Lagos All Comers with yet another victory in the women’s 100m hurdles, clocking 14.01s to win with Oluwakemi Francis 2nd in 14.20s and Adubi Victoria 3rd in 15.15s. Martins Ogieriakhi won the men’s 110m Hurdles in 14.04s with Abdullahi Bashiru 2nd in 14.33s and Oyeniyi Abejoye 3rd in 14.38s.
Patience Okon George had to forfeit her 200m final despite winning her heat in 23.49s, because it came just minutes before the 400m final. As expected, she went ahead to win the 400m running a time of 52.00s with Yinka Ajayi 2nd in 53.40s and Praise Idamadudu 3rd in 53.76s.
Orukpe Erayokan missed the men’s 400m final having copped an injury in the 200m, with Isah Salihu going on to win the race in 47.27s and Gerald Odeka 2nd in 47.65s as Henry Okorie who had earlier on won the 400m Hurdles, finished 3rd in 48.18s.
Okorie won the 400m Hurdles, running the fastest time in the two heats to win in 51.45s. Abdullahi who finished 2nd in the 110m Hurdles also finished 2nd in this category clocking 53.37s in heat 1, as the winner of heat 2, Gbenga Bakare was 3rd overall in 54.04s. Daisy Akpofa won the women’s 400m Hurdles in 57.77s, as Rita Ossai came in 2nd in 58.08s and Glory Nathaniel 3rd in 59.75s.
Philomena Ihekandu won the women’s 800m in 2:09.69 and Maria Diamond came in 2nd at 2:16.02 with Loveline Jatto 3rd in 2:18.16. In the men’s category, Anayo Eze won the race in 1:53.56s with Daniel Agboola 2nd in 1:53.86 and Sadiq Adebisi 3rd in 1:56.24.
Aminat Alabi won the women’s 1500m with a time of 4:52.93, and Oluwaseun Olamide 2nd in 4:56.49 as Ogechi Onudebe finished 3rd in 4:58.58. In the men’s category, Soudi Hamagam won the race in 3:50.82, with Sanusi Anaka 2nd in 4:01.52 and Beneuche Onah 3rd in 4:17.65.
Field Events:
African Games champion Nwanaga Kelechi led her fellow competitors by as much as 10m, winning the women’s Javelin in 49.65m. Francisca Chukwudebelum finished 2nd landing her spear a distance of 39.20m and Kasie Ugeh 3rd with 37.89m.
Samuel Adams took the men’s Javelin with his best mark of 67.60m, as Kingsley Igbinosun finished 2nd with 59.95m and Julius Osazee 3rd throwing a distance of 52.45m.
In the men’s Shot Put, Kalu Eke Onwuku won the event with a mark of 16.20m, and Stanley Okafor 2nd throwing 13.80m, with Adams moving up to 3rd with his very last throw of 12.32m. While in the women’s category, Leticia Chime won with a mark of 14.38m and Eucharia Ogbukwo 2nd throwing 13.93m as Anulika Aniefuna finished 3rd with a mark of 12.62m.
The men’s High Jump was won by Obiora Arinze at 2.00m having missed all three attempts at 2.05m. Theddus Okpara bowed out at 1.95m to finish 2nd and Emeka Nmesionye 3rd clearing 1.80m.
Ilorin will be the next city to host the Golden League, with Akure gearing up for the final next month.
