Delta State added at least three GOLD medals to its tally in Track and Field on Day 4 of Athletics at the ongoing National Youth Games (NYG) in Ilorin, with Ifeanyi Ojeli clinching GOLD for the state on Friday in the Boys’ 400m.
The quartermiler ran a tactical race to hold off Akwa Ibom’s Nsikak Francis who was one of the favourites going into the final. However, Ojeli finished strongly to set a Personal Best (PB) of 48.23s, while Kwara State’s David Olowokere followed in 48.30s. Francis won Bronze in 49.41s.
In the Girls’ event, Ogun State’s Adeyinka Bamtefa claimed her second GOLD medal of the competition as she came from behind to beat home girl Joy Abu, taking the victory in a time of 56.04s. Kwara State’s Abu settled for Silver with 56.40s, with Akwa Ibom’s Abasiono Akpan scooping Bronze in 56.55s.
Earlier in the day, Ondo State’s Alaba Akintola made it a sprint double when he stormed to victory in the Boys’ 200m, having won GOLD in the 100m two days before. His time of 21.5s saw him finishing ahead of Francis (21.8s) and Oyo State’s Aderoju Waliyu (21.8s).
Federal Capital Territory’s (FCT) Rosemary Chukwuma shook off the disappointment of being disqualified in the Girls’ 100m final to race to GOLD in the 200m, clocking a PB of 24.4s, while Favour Ofili of Delta State also set a PB of 24.7s to win Silver. Esther Peter of Akwa Ibom took Bronze in 24.7s.
Ruth Agadama of Delta State won the Girls’ Long Jump with a leap of 5.71m, and was followed by Ondo’s Ejiro Sunday (5.42m) and Amarachi Obi (5.01m) of Anambra State.
The Girls’ High Jump final was won by Delta’s Atlanta Ugochukwu who took the title with a clearance of 1.45m, pipping Humble Isan of Akwa-Ibom who also cleared the same distance, to GOLD. Abia’s Vivian Uzoma won bronze with 1.40m.
Akwa Ibom’s Ability Udo demonstrated that there is indeed ability in disability as she crossed the finishing line in the 100m Women T46 Final (Para-Athletics) ahead of her rivals. She returned a time of 14.63s to strike GOLD for her state. Favour Martins who represented Bauchi State, won Silver in 15.53s, with Amira Salisu of Gombe taking Bronze in 16.10s.
