Up and coming 400m runner Esther Elo Joseph produced the most exciting race of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria African Games trial at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba Delta State.
All eyes were on Patience Okon-George who had dominated the home based 400m women for so long, but unknowing to the watching crowd, a shock out-coming was in the offing and the drama began to unfold as Joseph launched herself into a strong lead from the 200m bend and at the home stretch she maintained her race and finished at 52.00 seconds personal best, expectedly the spectators where on their feet to greet the new kid on the block.
Esther Okon who mounted a challenge to no avail came second with 52.93 seconds, Uduak Udosoh took the third place with 54.59 seconds. Oluwabunmi Israel took the fourth place with 54.61, Odot Effiong was fifth with 54.79seconds, for Okon-George, it had to be her worst day on the track as she retreated to the high jump area to bemoan her 55.07second.
“It was a good race for me and I came well prepared and I’m not surprised by my own performance,” said Joseph, who is also a 400m hurdler.
“From here I want to keep improving and my target is to run a 49 within a short period. I’m working hard to achieve that by God’s grace.”
The men’s race was equally thrilling and Sikiru Adeyemi emphatically finished at 46.26 seconds, not the kind of time he wanted as he has his sights on the African Games and the Olympics later in the year.
“I came here with the mindset of doing a 45 at least, but this is a good start for me and I’m going to keep on working to achieve my target. Running 45 isn’t a hard thing for me to do,” said Adeyemi.
Daniel Atinaya was second with 46.46, while Samson Nathaniel came third with 47.13 seconds.
