With Top Sprinter 2016 ending on Saturday, fans who were at the Teslim Balogun Stadium will no doubt install the men’s 200m final A as the standout race of the competition.
It was an edge on the seat race. One that will be remembered in years to come not just by the athletes who ran the race, but also by those who watched it.
There were very interesting races in the three days that the competition took place, but none equates the finish and the huge roar from the spectators which came from the men’s 200m final. The only one that comes close is the women’s 100m final when Mercy Ntia-Obong raced from a losing position to dip in at the line and beat Cecilia Francis for the title.
Folarin Jare ran the race of his life to win, crossing the line in 21.84s. In fact the race was so tight that Thankgod Igube who finished 2nd crossed the line in 21.89s with Nathaniel Samson finishing 3rd in 21.90s.
All seven athletes in the race were in the frame for a win, all pushing themselves and attempting to dip in ahead of others and producing a scintillating finish that left spectators applauding.
It took the officials over 15 minutes to ascertain which athletes won the event as it was too close to call. In fact the final A race was so fast that Chukwudi Olisakwe who won final B, placed 7th overall having run a time of 22.21s.
The women’s 200m was not a photo finish, but it didn’t lack in excitement. Ntia-Obong stormed to a double, crossing the line with a time of 24.15s. While Glory Nathaniel finished 2nd in 24.70s and Francis 3rd in 24.70s.
Ntia-Obong had on Thursday won the 100m women’s title, further adding another GOLD when she anchored Cross River to victory in the women’s 4x100m relays.
In the Junior Boys 110m Hurdles, Musa Great Abubakar secured victoy with a time of 15.08s, beating Samuel Kufre who finished 2nd in 15.18s and Christain Martins 3rd in 15.53s.
In the 100m Hurdles Junior Girls, Vivian Akunna won with a time of 15.22s and Esther Isa 2nd in 16.05s and Ruby Lawani 20.92s.
David Aboh won the Junior Boys Long Jump leaping a distance of 6.65m and Meyiwa Ibeh 2nd in 6.57m and David Eyo 3rd with a time of 6.33m.
The girls category produced a huge shock that saw Omolayo Omotayo defeat Ruth Usoro, winning the Girls Long jump with a distance of 5.53m. Victory Odifhri finished 2nd with a mark of 5.35m and Maureen Abia 3rd jumping a distance of 5.33m .
