The very best of Nigerian athletes are already in Benin City warming up for the National Championships starting Sunday at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium and it promises to be the most exciting ever contested in recent times.
This is because it is the trials for the Olympics and moreso this season, Nigerian athletes have put up world class performances in various events, which have qualified them for Paris 2024.
Those who are yet to hit the mark are looking forward to making a statement, while those who have booked their places would want to consolidate.
The men and women long and short sprints as always, is the central attraction.
For Nigerian athletics officials, it is heart warming to see Nigerian men sprinters bouncing back again after they have been overshadowed by Ferdinand Omanyala of Kenya and Akani Simbine of South Africa in recent years.
Spearheading Nigeria’s march to reshape the African sprints is Ashe Favour who has consistently gone under 10.00 seconds. He has a season and personal best of 9.94 secs barring unforeseen circumstances he is number one to erase Olusoji Fasuba’s national record of 9.88secs since 2006.
Godson Brume is another sprinter gathering speed. He too has establish himself as sub 10 runner with personal best of 9.90 and a season best of 9.99, he has potentials to do more if put on the right plane of focus.
Udodi Uwazurike makes up the top three of sprinters. Slowed down by injury, he is begining to rediscover himself and grabbing all the attention. Udodi has a person best of 9.92 seconds and a season best of 10.24 secs. He remains the athlete to beat in the 200m with a personal best of 19.76 secs and a season best of 20.13secs.
Kayinsola Ajayi with 10.01secs season and personal best is also a strong contender in the field that is expected to produce an African or maybe a world leading time ahead the African Championships and Olympics.
No doubt Favour Ofili is the boss of the women sprint at the moment with a personal best of 10.78 and a 21.96 national record under her belt, it would be quite an upset if she upstaged by the likes of Rosemary Chuwkwuma 10.82 PB and 10.88 season best. Tima Godbless with 11.03 this season is another sprinter of note coming to the party.
The men and women 400m is another interesting prospect. For the first time in so many years, Nigeria can boast of four 44.00 runners in the men’s quarter mile. Samuel Ogazi leads the pack with 44.52secs. There’s Dubem Nwachukwu with 44.81secs, Bamidele Emmanuel 44.88secs, and Chidi Okezie who last hit the Olympics standard with 44.97secs.
Ella Onojuvwevwo is the woman on the block with a 50.57 secs the fastest Nigerian 400m time in recent years. She will be test by Elo Esther Joseph who posted 50.61secs to win the African Games gold back in March. Omolara Omotosho Ogumakinju with a
51.90 seasons best also made a great in Africa Games, though she had some injury concerns back in May, she can also show up strong if available in Benin City.
On the field all eyes will be on high jump sensation Temitope Adeshina to display her new found form in front of the home crowd. She has only the cross bar to contend with as she aims to clear 2.00m after she achieved 1.97m recently to erase her national record.
Ese Brume is still holding sway in the women’s long jump. She is aiming for her fourth African Championships title in Douala Cameroon. Compatriots Ruth Usoro with a personal best of 6.87m and up and coming former junior athlete Prestina Ochonogor 6.67m are hot on her heels. Brume perhaps would be looking to reproduce her personal best of 7.17m at the trials or at African Championships where Jasmine Koala of Burkina Faso is expected to give her a run for her money. Koala stopped Nigeria from having a 1.2.3 at African Games in March with a 6.81m effort. Ochonoghor settled for the bronze.
Speaking on the up coming event, Athletics Federation of Nigeria president Tonobok Okowa, said it is the very best of Nigerian athletes that have gathered in Benin City and his aim is to prove that Nigeria topping the medals table at the African Games was no fluke.
“For years, we have been looking for a way to top the medals table in the African Senior Championships, and I think we have the chance to make history this year in Douala, Cameroon based on the caliber of stars we have. “We will pick only our best athletes in this National Trials not only for our trip to Cameroon but for the Paris Olympics,” Okowa stated.
