Queen Obisesan was one of the stand-out performers on Day 2 of the Commonwealth Games Trials currently taking place at the main bowl of the National stadium in Abuja.
Obisesan who was the only athlete to set a National Record (NR) at the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) Golden League in Port-Harcourt, improved on her previous mark of 65.01m as she first threw a new PB and NR of 66.20m, before extending it to 66.86m to win the women’s Hammer throw.
So good was she on the day that she was able to register three 66m marks on her way to winning the event. With her new found form this season, there is definitely no stopping her ahead of the forthcoming Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia.
Another athlete who was in imperious form on Thursday was Eke Kalu Onwuka who is the Nigerian champion in the men’s Shot put event. Onwuka, who has been hovering around the 17m mark for the better part of his career, set a new PB for himself on his way to winning the men’s Shot Put. His mark of 18.15m put him head and shoulders ahead of Augustine Nwoye (16.60m) who placed 2nd in the event.
Also, Ugeh Kasie was the overall best in the final of the women’s Javelin throw, with her mark of 39.47m enough to give her the victory. Arinze Obiora (2.00m) and Precious Okoronkwo (6.43m) were equally winners in the men’s High Jump and women’s Long Jump respectively.
In the sprints, Bamidele Emmanuel who has been in scintillating form this season, set a new PB of 45.85s as he stole away from the rest of the field to win his 400m semi-finals, improving on his previous World Lead (WL) of 46.11s set in Port Harcourt.
2017 men’s 400m Champion, Samson Nathaniel was the victor in semi-final 2, while Orukpe Erakoyan set the second fastest time of the day in the event as he also emerged triumphant in the first semi-final of the day.
Meanwhile, the final of the men’s 100m was a race of tiny margins as the eventual Top 3 athletes all dipped below 10.40s. With reigning National Champion Seye Ogunlewe not starting the race, Enoch Adegoke took the race by the scruff of the neck as he upset the apple cart to win in a PB of 10.32s.
It was a photo-finish between Ogho-Oghene Egwero and Idjesa Uruemu in the battle for 2nd and 3rd place respectively as they both crossed the finish line in 10.38s. However, Egwero was the athlete that was eventually given the nod.
The women’s final almost witnessed an upset as Rosemary Chukwuma threatened to break the winning streak of Isoken Igbinosun. Igbinosun however counted on her experience as she crossed the finish line in a time of 11.55s. Chukwuma placed 2nd in the race in 11.58s as Making of Champions’ (MoC) Joy Udo-Gabriel settled for 3rd while running a time of 11.70s.
In the men’s 400m Hurdles final, Henry Okorie proved that he still has what it takes to compete at the top level as he brushed aside all competition to win in a time of 50.89s. Glory Nathaniel (56.77s) also left Rita Ossai (57.50s) chasing after her on her way to winning the women’s category.
