Things are looking good for Nigerian sprinters as the athletics events of the 2023 African Games began Monday morning at the University of Ghana Stadium Legon, Accra.
In the heats of the 100m, Consider Ekanem, Itseorishe Itsekiri and Sunday Okon a good job of qualifying to the semi final, while the women Olayinka Olajide, Justina Tiana Eyakpobeyan and Blessings Ogundiran are promising a good showing in the unfolding contest by topping their respective heats.
Eyakpobeyan, looked good out of the blocks and she didn’t need much struggle to beat the women in the field she finished 11.43 secs the fastest time in the heats.
Olajide ran 11.51secs to finish top of heat, Ogundiran clocked 11.65secs to also win her heat.
The men’s race was tight for Itsekiri who was beaten to the second place by Cameroonian Emmanuel Eseme who finished at 10.15 seconds, while Itsekiri returned 10.19 seconds.
Okon with 10.55 seconds was second behind home boy Benjamin Azamati who finished 10.54secs
Consider Ekanem finished top of his heat with 10.44seconds.
The semi finals are billed for later in the day and Nigerians officials are hopeful of having all the runners in the finals.
“The morning session has gone well for us and we are hopeful that would have all our sprinters in the final,” said coach Gabriel Okon.
Also in the evening the 400m men and women would be taking to the track for a place in the semifinal while Nigeria 4x400m mixed relay team will also be in action.
