Reigning Commonwealth and African Long Jump GOLD medallist Ese Brume continued her dominance in the event as she retained her title from 2016 by leaping to a distance of 6.40m on Day 1 of the All Nigeria Track and Field Championships in Abuja.
The mark is 5cm shy of her winning distance in 2016. Brume, who is currently studying at the Eastern Mediterranean University in Cyprus, has a Season’s Best (SB) of 6.64m set in Denizli, Turkey in May. Maria Thompson placed 2nd with a mark of 5.92m, while Precious Okoronkwo recorded a jump of 5.91m in 3rd place.
Brume was Nigeria’s best Track and Field performer at the 2016 Rio Olympics where she made the final in her first outing at the Games. She made her debut outing at the Drake Relays in April where she placed 2nd with a leap of 6.49m, and will be looking forward to her maiden World Championships experience in London next month.
She may be joined in the event by Beijing 2008 Silver medallist Blessing Okagbare who has surpassed the London 2017 qualifying mark after leaping to an SB of 6.77m in Székesfehérvár earlier this month.
Samuel Adams is another Field athlete who successfully defended his national title. Adams recorded an SB of 71.24m to extend his victory in the men’s Javelin throw, a massive improvement from his winning mark of 66.89m in 2016.
Kenechukwu Ezeofor and Ndifreke Martin Edet followed with throws of 64.49m and 57.26m respectively to win Silver and Bronze. Adams had set an SB of 70.78m earlier in the season enroute winning the event at the Athletics Grand Prix Bronze in Cameroon last month.
Eke Onwuka Kalu won the men’s Shot put final with a throw of 16.51m. Augustine Nwoye was 2nd with 16.25m, while National Junior Champion Isaac Odugbesan claimed Bronze with a mark of 16.09m.
NR holder in the women’s Hammer throw, Queen Obisesan won the title ahead of Feyisayo Daramola (47.74m) and Sofiat Omizi (43.55m) with a distance of 58.91m.
Celestina Efobi was the woman to beat in the Discus final, taking GOLD with a throw of 37.58m. Kasie Ugeh followed with a mark of 37.33m, while Keke Immaculate claimed Bronze with her distance of 36.51m.
