Just as in 2020, the 2021 Nigerian Track & Field season officially commenced today with the All-Comers meet where an estimated 500 athletes converged for a competition-based assessment at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA).
Enoch Adegoke’s performance was the highlight of the competition as he sizzled a Season’s Best (SB) of 10.16s (+0.8m/s), the fastest time in the world this year to take the men’s 100m final A, bettering the World Lead (WL) mark formerly held by Australia’s Jake Doran at 10.23s.
The race was so high-quality that Godson Brume, who looked for sometime like he was going for the win, also powered through to the finish in a massive Personal Best (PB) and World U-20 Lead of 10.27s! Alaba Akintola placed 3rd, returning a time of 10.40s, a few hundredths short of his PB.
In the final B, MoC’s Favour Ashe came through strongly as he laid claim to the win in a Season’s Best (SB) of 10.50s, a time that qualifies him for the 2021 World U-20 Championships in Kenya ahead of Nicholas Mabilo who edged out Emmanuel Oche for 2nd, both of them timed 10.61s.
In the women’s equivalent, National Champion Joy Udo-Gabriel had a good start and held her form nicely to the finish, winning the 100m final A in an SB of 11.72s from Praise Idamadudu who clocked 11.81s and Esther Okon in 11.87s.
Ese Awuse controlled affairs in the women’s 100m final B as she ran a time of 12.00s ahead of Blessing Aguda (12.04s) and Adetutu Aladeloye (12.21s).
Having run a PB of 10.40s in the men’s 100m heats, National 400m Champion Emmanuel Ojeli shut down the men’s 200m as he won his heat in a big PB of 20.78s (+0.3), the fastest across all 16 heats!
He and his teammate, Jerry Jakpa were the only two who dipped under 21s as the latter likewise, won his heat in an SB of 20.94s (+1.4), while John Clifford who won the 11th heat in a PB of 21.17s (+1.0) was the 3rd fastest man overall.
Fakorede Nicholas wasn’t afar off as he won heat 9 in 21.18s (+1.0), while Alaba Akintola clocked 21.20s (+0.6) in heat 13.
Esther Okon was the fastest woman over 200m, clocking a PB of 23.82s (0.0) in heat 4 of the event ahead of Goodbless Tima who finished in 24.32s.
The 2nd fastest woman at the distance and winner of heat 5 was Praise Idamadudu in 23.97s, while Olajide Olayinka was the 3rd fastest, also winning her heat in 24.01s.
On to the 400m, Sikiru Adeyemi ran a fine and dominant race, storming round the track to a PB of 46.19s in the final heat. He finished ahead of Nathaniel Samson and Abdulrahman Afeez who both followed in SB’s of 47.08s and 47.79s respectively.
Chidera Nnamani won the first heat in a PB of 47.61s, while Ayo Adeola took heat 8 in a 47.87s (PB), just edging Gerald Odeka who clocked 48.14s, as Oluwabamidele Ajayi placed 3rd in 48.14s.
Meanwhile, Imaobong Nse Uko recovered from a poor start, pulling clear of the entire field on the home straight to nail the win in the women’s 400m with an SB of 53.98s. Blessing Ovwighoadjebre finished 2nd in 55.32s, holding off Blessing Oladoye who got 3rd in 55.38s.
National Champion Oyeniyi Abejoye recovered well from a fair start and eased across the finish to win the men’s 110mH in 14.23s (+1.2) ahead of decathlete Samuel Osadolor who ran 14.31s and Martins Ogierakhi in 14.33s.
After a false start and warning was issued to favourite Kemi Francis, it was Ese Awusa who running unnoticed from lane 8, stunned the field to win the women’s 100mH in a time of 14.35s (+1.5), just holding out Francis who ran 14.36s and Stella Ayanleke in 14.53s.
Prior Ochonogor ran a well metered race to take the men’s 400mH in a time of 53.12s ahead of Teslim Oyedele who clocked 53.71s and Gbenga Bakre in 54.75s. The women’s race was won by Esther Joseph in 62.79s.
Infield, Kure Adams was the most impressive man in the Javelin Throw as he launched his implement out to a mark of 74.69m, well ahead of 2nd-placed Emmanuel Ogboagu who managed 47.63m.
Zola Nzube reached 7.33m to win the men’s Long Jump ahead of Bode Akintokun who jumped 7.26m and Oshasha Afoke at 7.25m.
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