After two days of intense competition, Federal Government College (FGC) Ijanikin topped the standings at the 2nd Channels TV Track and Field Classics with three GOLD and three Silver medals as the competition came to an end on Thursday, November 14, at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos.
Ijaiye Housing Senior Secondary School was 2nd on the medals table with three GOLD, two Silver and one Bronze, while Temple Secondary School finished 3rd with three GOLD and one Bronze. Tindip College was 4th with 2 GOLD medals as Chrisland College followed with one GOLD and three Silver medals. Atlantic Hall was 6th with one GOLD, two Silver medals.
Olaolu Olatunde emerged the Most Valuable Athlete at the meet after gifting his school, Temple Secondary School, with three GOLD medals, having won the Long Jump and 200m titles on Day 1 of the tournament. On Day 2, he went on to claim the Boys’ 100m GOLD with a Personal Best (PB) of 10.96s and also anchored his school’s 4x100m team to Bronze to end the competition on a high.
He said, “I’m very happy because I set a PB. The difference wasn’t much because my former PB was 10.97s and I lowered it to 10.96s, which shows that I’m improving. The competition was very fierce but my competitors really pushed me; I’m very happy with my wins.
“A lot of preparation went into this and I’m glad it wasn’t in vain. I want to dedicate my medals to the Lord, my mum, coaches and Temple Secondary School. I hope to qualify for next year’s National Sports Festival (NSF).”
Muhammed Kabiru of State Senior High School who placed 2nd in the 200m yesterday, retained the same position in the 100m where he clocked a time of 11.38s. Francis Umenzekwe of Igbobi College was 3rd in 11.68s.
Alimot Alowonle of Tindip College claimed the sprint double in the women’s event, clocking 12.89s to win the 100m on Day 2, having earlier captured the 200m title on Day 1 with a time of 26.04s. Victoria Ejembi of Federal Government College Ijanikin was 2nd in both the 100m (13.38s) and 200m (27.25s), and also won GOLD in the Long Jump with a leap of 5.00m. This was her first time of doing the Long Jump. Joy Ojo of Ijaiye Housing Estate finished 3rd in the 100m in a time of 13.46s.
Ebuka Nwachukwu Iloghalu of Atlantic Hall raced to GOLD in the Boys’ 800m with a time of 2:08s to finish ahead of Daniel Samuel of FGC Ijanikin and Isaiah Abatan of Ebute Elefun High School.
Victor Onyekachi of Command Day School was the boy to beat in the High Jump where he cleared a best height of 1.80m, while Alaere Peterside of Chrisland Secondary School won the women’s event with 1.57m. Peterside also claimed a Silver medal in the Girls’ Long Jump with a leap of 4.89m.
Ibrahim Dabana of FGC Ijanikin dominated the Boys’ Shot put with a mark of 11.87m as Moyo Toluhi of Atlantic Hall and Christopher Nwanri of Government College Eric Moore won Silver and Bronze respectively with 11.58m and 11.07m.
Ijaiye Housing Estate raced to GOLD in the Girls’ 4x100m where they returned a time of 50.96s to finish ahead of Chrisland College (53.81s) and Babington Macaulay Junior Secondary School (54.05s). In the Boys’ event, Igbobi College raced to GOLD, while St. Gregory’s College and Temple Secondary School settled for Silver and Bronze respectively.
In the 4x400m, Ijaiye Housing Estate Senior Secondary School stormed to GOLD in the Girls’ event with 4:18.2, with Barbington Macaulay following in 4:35.1, while Greensprings College settled for 3rd in 4:41.4
1118 students from across 59 participated in the Channels Track and Field Classics which featured 10 events: the Boys’ and Girls’ 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 100mH/110mH, Shot Put, Long Jump, High Jump, 4x100m and 4x400m Relays.
