Former national champion Ogho-Oghene Egwero ran the fastest time of the two 100m races, winning in 10.23s at the 2015 Warri Relays/CAA Grand Prix. Egwero defeated Jonathan Nmaju who finished 2nd in 10.34s, with Obinna Metu coming 3rd in 10.37s.
With rains interrupting the Championships, the weather wasn’t the best to compete in as it impacted in the performances of the athletes. The competition even had to be delayed in order for the rain to stop, leaving the track waterlogged afterwards.
In the men’s 100m ‘B’ race, Divine Oduduru came through in a 10.38s, beating Peter Tega Odele who finished 2nd with 10.43s and Chukwuma Onyeaku 3rd in 10.56s.
The women’s 100m was a keenly contest one too, with both finals producing a thrilling finale. Gloria Asumnu won the women’s A race in 11.60s, beating Ghana’s Fling Owusu-Agydmpong who finished 2nd in 11.61s and Nkem Ezeala who was 3rd in 11.71s. Stephanie Kalu won the B race in 11.63s while Deborah Odeyemi came 2nd in 11.69s, and Ngozi Onwumere 3rd in 11.72s.
With Nigeria winning the two 100m races in both categories, it made them the favourites going into the 4×100 relay races. Team Nigeria coasted to victory in the women’s 4x100m, with: Asumnu, Olivia Ekpone, Odeyemi and Kalu combining nicely to win in 43.99s. Team Ghana finished 2nd in 44.62s and Team South Africa 3rd in 44.89s. It was also the same tale in the men’s category with Team Nigeria coming out tops in 39.18s. Nigeria Police was 2nd in 39.64s with Civil Defence 3rd in 39.80s.
It was with despair that Patience Okon George looked at the time board after realising that she won her 400m race in 51.78s. She told Making of Champions after the race: “I am not bothered with my time, this is just the beginning because in five days time we have All Nigeria Championships, so I was taking it easy in the race.” A confident Okon who ran a Personal Best of 50.76s last month, reiterated that come next week she will cart home the 400m title: “I will win” she said.
Meanwhile, it was a 1-2 finish for Ghana in the men’s 400m with Emmanuel Dasor emerging as the surprise package, clocking 46.14s to power to victory. His countryman Daniel Gyasi finished 2nd in 46.45s while Nigeria’s Orupke Erayokan came 3rd in 46.52s.
Ghana further showed that their good outing in the 400m was not a fluke as they teamed up nicely to win the men’s 4x400m relay race. The quartet of George Effah, Gyasi, Acheampong Kwadwo and Dasor would be delighted on their victory, snatching the win right at the line in 3:04.72.
Erayokan who anchored for Nigeria, was chased down the line by Dasor who dipped in first to steal the win, despite the former looking like he had the win in the bag. Nigeria finished 2nd in 3:04.77 while Bostwana surprisingly came 3rd in 3:06.49. However, the women’s 4×400 saw Nigeria taking victory in 3:30.88 and Bostwana 2nd in 3:36.97, with Nigeria’s team B 3rd in 3:46.43.
It was a very close race in the women’s 100m hurdles with Lindsay Wenyime coming through in 13.75s. Tyrone Akins had to also overcome a strong challenge in the men’s 110 hurdles, nicking it over Martins Ogieriakhi in 13.82s.
Akins told us that the weather played a part: “The conditions were better than I thought. I thought it would have been a lot faster today… I am trying to get close to the 13.40s mark but I will take the win.”
In the women’s 400m hurdles, Amaka Ogoegbunam won in 56.26s, beating Daisy Akpofa who came 2nd in 58.51s, with Glory Nathaniel 3rd in 58.53s. Mozambique’s Kurt Cuoto won the men’s category in 50.46s, with Henry Okorie staging a surprise to finish 2nd in 50.86s, beating Amaechi Morton who was 3rd in 51.01s.
Field events:
Theddus Okpara did a double to secure victories in the men’s Long and High Jump events. His 7.90m distance earned him the win over Samson Idiata who was 2nd with 7.85m, with Ezekiel Ewulo who did 7.68m. Okpara carried that form into the High Jump where he came out tops in 2.03m, while Arinze Obiora came 2nd with 2.00m, same as Kingsley Ayebide who was 3rd.
John Amponah won the men’s Javelin with 73.73m, while Kenechukwu Ezeofor was 2nd after throwing 67.32m and Friday Osayande 3rd with 64.74m. Great Britain’s Nathan Fox defeated Olamide Olamigoke to win the men’s Triple Jump, after leaping 16.65m, and his Nigerian counterpart not afar off in 16.53m.
Precious Ogunleye won the women’s Hammer after throwing a 56.25m distance, while Cecilia Ekpenyong was 2nd with 44.95m, and Rita Modili 3rd recording 39.73m.
With just days to the National Championship, the Nigerian athletes could have saved up their best knowing that the trials is more of a bigger prize, with many of them still aiming to qualify for the World Champs in Beijing. What better way to prepare than the Warri Grand Prix, which could have afforded them the opportunity to get in shape and be up for the challenge.
