Justina Eyakpobeyan was the darling of the track on Day 2 of the 4th MoC Grand Prix in Yabatech, Lagos, powering to a new Personal Best (PB) of 11.24s (+0.9) to win the keenly contested women’s 100m. She broke the PB she set at the Commonwealth Youth Games last year in Trinidad & Tobago.
Eyakpobeyan who was Nigeria’s leadoff at the African Games, got out to a bullet start and held off a closing Olayinka Olajide by a hair’s breadth as the latter finished 2nd in 11.25s. The field, which was of highest quality in lineup, saw Precious Nzeakor finish 3rd in a PB of 11.47s.
In the men’s race, Sunday Israel Okon showed that his victory at the African Games Trials was no fluke as he beat a stacked field, equalling his PB of 10.20s (1.2). He inspired a very strong Olaolu Jason Olatunde to a new PB of 10.33s, while Fakorede Nicholas finished 3rd in 10.42s.
Esther Elo Joseph got out well in the women’s 400m, leading by halfway and holding her ground to bring home the win in a Meet Record (MR) of 52.00s! She finished ahead of Esther Okon who improved to a new Personal Best (PB) of 52.71s to finish 2nd, a nice chunk off her previous PB from the African Games Trials.
Chioma Nwachukwu finished 3rd in 53.05s (PB), while Patience Okon-George who was one of the red-hot favourites going into the race, was disqualified for a false start.
In the men’s 400m, Emmanuel Ojeli emerged a clear victor in a Season’s Best (SB) of 46.14s, defeating Adeyemi Sikiru who was 2nd in 46.56s to retain his title while Samson Nathaniel was 3rd in 46.89s.
Faith Osamuyi was one of the athletes who set MRs at the 4th MoC Grand Prix, posting the fourth fastest time of her career in 13.58s (-0.2) to win the women’s 100m hurdles. She finished ahead of Grace Ayemoba who had the former MR at 13.66s, the latter clocking 14.01s in 2nd place.
Samuel Osadolor got the better of Wisdom Musa in the men’s 110m hurdles, snatching victory in a time of 14.21s (-1.3) to the latter’s 14.25s. Martins Ogieriakhi finished 3rd in 14.59s.
The field was no match for Iran’s Mahdi Pirjahan who won the men’s 400m Hurdles in a Season’s Best (SB) and MR of 50.39s! He was over two seconds ahead of his closest rival in the form of Gbenga Bakre who clocked 52.52s and Sodiq Adebisi in 52.93s.
In the women’s equivalent, Taiwo Kudoro ran a new PB of 60.81s to emerge winner over Damilola Alli who in her second race over the distance, shaved three seconds off her best, coming in 2nd in 61.71s. Daisy Akpofa was 3rd in 62.03s.
His teammate Sobhan Ahmadi dominated the men’s 800m, breaking the MR with a time of 1:48.53, the fastest time on Nigerian soil in six years. He finished ahead of Adedokun Ayobami who returned a time of 1:50.11.
African Games finalist Comfort James won the women’s race in an MR of 2:06.75, the fourth fastest time of her career to finish ahead of a well-improved Mercy Audu who set a new PB of 2:16.96 in 2nd place.
On the field, Cameroonians Gama Derick Chiambah and Veronica Kossenda Rey dominated the men’s and women’s Triple Jump respectively. Chiambah won the men’s race with a new PB of 16.21m, beating Goodluck Fiaku who jumped 14.91m. This was before Fiaku had cleared a PB and equal MR of 2.15m to the delight of the crowd to win the men’s High Jump.
Kossenda Rey jumped a mark of 13.29m (-1.3) to take the women’s Triple Jump, while Peace Ewa won the women’s High Jump event with a new PB of 1.78m.
Cameroon’s Appolinaire Yinra edged Afoke Oshasha in the men’s Long Jump, reaching 7.23m to win over the Nigerian’s best attempt of 7.20m.
