It was an intense two days of competition at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna where the 2018 Kaduna School Sports Festival held sway from June 22nd to 23rd, courtesy of Faith Academy, in collaboration with the Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON), the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports, and foremost Sports Media and Management company, Making of Champions.
About 22 Secondary Schools participated in the tournament, which saw the youngsters compete in the Boys’ and Girls’ 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 4x100m and 4x400m relays, Javelin throw, Shot Put, Discus, Long Jump and High Jump events.
At the end of the day, host school Faith Academy topped the table with a total of 36 medals after clinching 16 GOLD, 9 Silver and 11 Bronze. They were followed by Bethel Baptist High School which won 11 medals – 6 GOLD, 2 Silver and 3 Bronze medals. Our Lady of Fatima Girls’ Secondary School took 3rd position with 16 medals (4 GOLD, 7 Silver and 5 Bronze medals).
The Honourable Commissioner, Kaduna State Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, Daniel Amuze Danauta was in attendance on Day 1 of the event, which kicked off with a march-past, before athletes took to the track and field for their respective events.
In his welcome address, Principal of Faith Academy, Pastor D.I Edokpolor, emphasized the need to make Sports a compulsory part of every school’s curriculum.
He said: “Inclusion of games in the curriculum of students is very important in modern times, hence the popular slogan that “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”. We want Jack to become a bright young man, and for this to become possible, we must therefore as a matter of necessity, make games and sports not optional but compulsory at all levels”.
The 100m and 400m heats took place on Friday, along with the finals of the Boys’ and Girls’ Long Jump, 800m and Javelin events, which threw up several outstanding talent.
Josiah Joel of Faith Academy won the Boys’ 800m (2:11.48) ahead of Ibrahim Salawu of Saint Micheal’s, and teammate Abel Adamu. The Girls’ race was won by Alheri Dikko of Faith Academy as she finished ahead of Wisdom Haruna and Rita Christopher.
Bethel Academy dominated the Javelin event, with Christiana Donald taking the lead in the Girls’ event, while teammate Jacob Mbaya (33.75m) did same in the Boys’ category.
The Girls’ and Boys’ 100m, 200m and 400m finals were decided on Day 2 even though activities were disrupted by a torrential downpour which lasted for several hours. However, that did not stop the young athletes from filing out for their various events, even as they braved all odds to compete under the rain.
Judge Jonathan of Demonstration Secondary School, was the male outstanding sprinter of the day as he stormed to the sprint double, taking victory in the 100m in 11.45s, and 25.28s in the 200m. He also inspired his team to 2nd place in the 4x400m.
Emmanuel Sule of Saint Micheal’s won double Silver, clocking 11.70s in the 100m, and 26.01s in the 200m. Daniel Nden (12.08s) was 3rd in the Boy’s 100m, while Clement Ejeh placed same in the 200m.
Joy Bamaiyi of our Lady of Fatima was the one to beat in the Girls’ 100m final where she returned a time of 13.17s to finish ahead of Faith Academy’s Peace Lekwot (13.57s) and Vivian Anangwonye (13:97s) of Demonstration Secondary School. She also played a vital role to win Silver in the 4x100m and Bronze in the 4x400m (5:03.12).
Albertina Garba of Faith Academy claimed three titles after winning the Girls’ 200m in 28.85s, and the Long Jump, as well as the 4x100m relay (55.81s).
Anagwonye (29.86s) added Silver in the 200m, having taken Bronze in the 100m, while her teammate Temitope Olusesun (29.60s) who took Bronze in the 200m, went on to take Silver in the 400m, as Hassana Maaji of Christ Supreme won the race in 1:08.81.
Faith Academy’s Eddie Baba who won his heat and semifinal in the Boys’ 400m, got the job done in the final where he clocked 54.70s. Stephen Moses (57.20s) and Musa Buhari (58.95s) were 2nd and 3rd respectively.
The 1500m was dominated by Bethel Baptist, with Monday Marcus winning the Boys race, while Princess John did same in the Girls’ event.
Tanko Josiah of Faith Academy was the last Boy standing in the High Jump final where he cleared 1.50m, while his teammate Favour Dambo emerged victorious in the Girls’ event.
Faith Academy won three of the four relay finals as they were the team to beat in the Boys’ and Girls’ 4x100m, and the Boys’ 4x400m (3:53.04).
Our Lady of Fatima scooped Silver in the Girls’ 4x100m final, while Christ Supreme settled for 3rd. In the Boys’ race, Saint Micheal’s took Silver in 48.38s behind Faith Academy (47.46s), as Challawa Secondary School took Bronze in 48.52s.
Bethel Baptist won the Girls’ 4x400m relay with a time of 4:58.38 to finish ahead of Faith Academy (5:01.48). They also took Silver in the Boys’ 4x400m (4:02.08), with Demonstration Secondary School taking Bronze in 4:02.26.
