One of the Most Valuable Performers (MVPs) from Season 1 of MTN CHAMPS, Miracle Oluebube Ezechukwu of Nigerian Tulip International School, Abuja, made an explosive return in Season 2 of the School Athletics Championships.
The sprinter raced to a stunning Personal Best (PB) of 11.75s (+0.4) to win her U20 semifinal heat whilst competing on Day 2 of MTN CHAMPS Jos at the New Jos Stadium, improving by almost two-tenths of a seconds, the PB (11.91s) that she ran during the heats of the competition.
With this performance, she became the first athlete in any category at MTN CHAMPS to hit the World U20 Championships qualification standard over 100m, which for the women is set at 11.78s!
Ezechukwu who moved up from the Youth category into the Junior class, broke the MTN CHAMPS outright 100m Record of 11.82s set last season by Rosemary Edet. She went on to win GOLD in 11.81s as her teammate, Chigozie Nwankwo, who broke 12s for the first time in her career during the semis (11.95s), settled for Silver in 12.02s. Ojone Akubo-Adegbe was 3rd in 12.38s.
Divinefavour Okisamen (10.79s) of Real Winners, Sasere Taiwo (10.93s) and Enoch Dabo (10.94s) of Speed of Light were the Top 3 finishers in the Junior Boys’ 100m.
Adaeze Eze, also of Nigerian Tulip, and Mercy Ogbonna of G.S.S Township, were the standout athletes in the Youth Girls 100m category, both running new Personal Bests (PB) to win their respective heats.
Eze ran a PB of 12.36s, the fastest time overall to win Heat 6, while Ogbonna ran under 13s for the first time, winning Heat 5 in a PB of 12.73s. The latter improved on her time to win Silver in 12.67 behind Eze who set another PB of 12.34s in the semis, while Mwuese Zoko of Foundation Science settled for Bronze with 13.02s.
Kenneth Onyeji of FGC Jos was the boy to beat in the Youth category where he clocked 11.73s for GOLD. Henry Chukwudi and Manasseh Matthew followed in 2nd and 3rd respectively.
Favour Okaro, Vera Thomas and Deborah Ochapa completed the podium in the women’s 100m, while Yusuf Muhammed Kabir dominated the men’s event, taking the victory with a time of 10.69s, finishing ahead of Emmanuel Peters Aki (10.77s) and Emmanuel Adekanola (10.90s).
Benjamin Iliya of Command Day won the Cadet Boys’ event, with Joseph Joachim of Sabon Tasha Government and Japtha Jacob of Gombe Athletics following.
Bernice Onoriode of Coach Felix Foundation took the Cadet Girls’ title in 13.53s, while Joanna Udoh of St. Paul’s Academy (14.08s) and Chiamaka Nwakanma of Notre Dame Girls finished 2nd and 3rd respectively.
Comfort Sule marginally improved on her 400m PB to win the Junior Girls’ title with a new lifetime best of 55.57s. In February this year, Sule ran 55.58s in Abuja, the first time she would run under 56s, and now she has done it a second time in a space of two months. Gillian Odeka of Unique Stars and Stella Ochor settled for Silver and Bronze.
Sule’s teammate Alphonsus Akwaga led the way in the Junior Boys’ 400m where he returned a time of 49.41s to cross the line ahead of Justin Ekut and Benedict Okereafor.
Temitope Olusesan posted 57.78s in the women’s 400m to take GOLD ahead of Deaf athlete Mary Monday, while Plagnan Gusen finished 3rd.
Onome Okozi of Fast Feet won the men’s 400m event, leaving Kenechukwu Victor and Ozioma Nwachukwu of the NSCDC in his wake.
In the Youth class, Emeka Nwoke, Izang Igyem and Anah Sunday were the top finishers in the Boys’ race, while Foundation Science’s Juliet Ikhianosimhe (1:00.58) pulled off a 1-2 for her school, inspiring Felicia Adebayo (1:00.61) to Silver. Precious Iwuala took the Bronze in 1:02.78.
Stephanie Obieke was the girl to beat in the Cadet 400m, posting 1:03.57 to defeat Faustina Innocent and Fedelia Fedelis. In the Boys’ event, Musa Abdulgaffar emerged tops. He was followed by Salim Ibrahim and Nuhu Bamaiyi.
Best Amtu won the Youth Boys’ Javelin throw with a PB of 38.19m. Diamond Ray’s Shaibu Rufai and Johnny Udeme placed 2nd and 3rd respectively. This was the second medal for Rufai who also struck GOLD in the Discus event.
