The much awaited men and women’s 100m finals provided the highlights of the morning session on Day 2 of the ongoing National U-20 Trials holding at the Delta State Polytechnic in Ozoro, with Akintola Alaba and Joy Udo-Gabriel clinching titles in keenly contested races.
The men’s 100m final had to be re-run due to a false start, but it was Alaba who won both races as he would not be denied, and took the title in 10.67s, adding the Junior title to the double GOLD he won at last year’s National Youth Games (NYG) in Ilorin.
Gershon Omubo who was favoured to win the men’s 100m after clocking the fastest time in the heats and semis, finished 3rd in 10.74s, as Orelaja Agbolade placed 2nd with 10.73s.
ARCO-sponsored Udo-Gabriel extended her unbeaten run in the competition to upgrade to GOLD after winning double Silver last year. The 19-year old returned a time of 11.56s to make it three wins in three races, while Rosemary Chukwuma followed in 11.71s. Blessing Ogundiran was 3rd in 11.78s as Marvelous Asemota settled for 4th in 11.87s.
Hauwawu Haruna won the women’s 800m in 2:12.74 to finish ahead of Maria Diamond (2:13.22) and Oluwadamilola Adereti (2:22.27).
The men’s 800m final comprised of two heats, but Hamid Sambo ran the overall fastest time of 1:55.15 in Heat 2, and was followed Edidiong Okon (1:57.90). Seun Adognon won Heat 1 in 1:58.50.
Onaara Obamuwagun won the women’s Triple Jump with a leap of 12.23m, while Victory George and Zina Victor settled for 2nd and 3rd respectively.
