African Discus Champion Nwanneka Okwelogu continued her winning streak at the 2016 Nigerian Trials in Sapele, claiming National titles in both the Discus and Shot put events.
Both titles came easy for the Harvard undergraduate after team mates and rivals Chinwe Okoro, Claire Uke and Chioma Onyekwere failed to make the trip down to Nigeria.
The African Silver medallist on the first day of the championships, threw a distance of 52.93m in the Discus event to win the title ahead of Nkechi Chime Leticia (38.35m) and Princess Kara (36.12m).
On Day 2 of the Championships, Okwelogu clinched her second GOLD in the women’s Shot put, throwing a distance of 16.17m. Leticia settled for Silver once again with a distance of 15.92m, while Eucharia Ogbukwo was the Bronze medal winner with a mark of 14.21m.
Her winning form in the past one month would be a big motivation even as she prepares for the Olympic Games, having met the qualifying mark in the Shot put.
African Games Javelin Champion Kelechi Nwanaga also recorded one of the best performances in the field events on Day 2 of the Championships.
Nwanaga set a Personal Best (PB) of 53.52m to be crowned National Champion ahead of Priscillia Zever who threw a distance of 44.47m, while Francisca Chukwudalum settled for Bronze with 42.86m.
In the men’s category, Samuel Adams Kure got the winning throw ahead of Friday Osayande with a distance of 66.89m. Osayande’s close distance of 66.55m won him the Silver medal while Kenechukwu Ezeofor won Bronze with 65.35m.
Augustine Nwoye won the men’s Discus final with 54.11m, which was far ahead of Ezeofor’s Silver medal winning distance of 50.13m. Samuel Olawale Olatunji got the Bronze with 49.08m.
The men’s Shot Put saw a new Champion in Chukwuebuka Enekwechi who threw a distance of 19.60m. Awoyinka Olatunde was 2nd with 19.00m while Kalu Eke settled for Bronze with 17.04m.
Meanwhile in the women’s Hammer throw, Daramola Feyisayo was no match for her peers as she threw a distance of 49.06m to win the National Title. Cecilia Inyang threw 47.09m to place 2nd while Omizi Sophiat Tolani completed the podium with 46.77m.
However in the men’s category, Ganiyu Monsuru threw 45.57m for the win with Olatunji Olawale taking the Silver medal with 44.69m. Godknows Ekanem was 3rd with a distance of 40.65m.
