The GOLD rush continued for Nigeria on the final day of Track and Field at the 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games in Samoa, with African Junior champion Praise Idamadudu, winning the Girls’ 200m race, before partnering with her team mates in the 4x100m relay to take the victory.
Idamadudu clocked a Personal Best (PB) of 23.30s to take GOLD ahead of Alisha Rees of Scotland (23.61s). This is Idamadudu’s third title over the distance this season, having emerged winner of the women’s 200m at the 2015 African Junior Championships in Ethiopia, before taking her first National title at the Nigerian Trials in Warri.
Just as she did in Ethiopia, Aniekeme Alphonsus settled for Bronze in Samoa, clocking a time of 23.63s. This medal is an addition to the two GOLD and one Silver medal she won in the 4x400m, 4x200m and 200m respectively. The Boys’ 200m was more dramatic as the race threw up two winners.
True to predictions, tournament favourite Gift Leotlela made it a double, posting 20.56s to take the 200m crown, but so did England’s Toby Harries, who also clocked the same time. As such no Silver medal was awarded for the event, while another South African, Kyle Bradley Appel took the Bronze in 21.11s.
Girls’ 100m GOLD medallist Omotayo Abolaji provided a powerful anchor leg to inspire the 4x100m relay team to victory with a time of 45.86s. Other members of the team include Idamadudu, Alphonsus and Blessing Adiakerehwa. This is the third win for the Girls’ relay team in Samoa, as they also dominated the 4x200m and 4x400m races.
Australia placed 2nd with 47.36s, while host nation Samoa took the Bronze in 53.97s. Botswana won the Boys’ 4x100m relay in 41.94s, with Australia and Nigeria following with 42.67s and 42.68s respectively. England finished in 4th place (43.17s) as Samoa settled for 5th with 45.12s.
Nigeria won 6 GOLD, 1 Silver and 3 Bronze medals in Track and Field alone. The only other medalist thus far in the competition is Appah Emmanuel Inemo, who picked Silver in the 62kg category in the men’s Weightlifting event where he made a lift of 236kg.
Australia tops the table with 17 GOLD, 11 Silver and 13 Bronze medals, while South Africa follows with 10 GOLD, 5 Silver and 10 Bronze. England is 3rd with 7 GOLD, 12 Silver and 12 Bronze medals. Nigeria is 5th with 6 GOLD, 2 Silver and 3 Bronze medals. The competition ends on September 11.
