The Girls’ 200m final at the 2018 National Youth Games (NYG) in Ilorin was a battle for superiority between Delta’s Praise Ofoku and Imeobong Nse Uko of Akwa Ibom.
Ofoku had won the 100m title on Day 1, while Uko claimed 400m GOLD on Day 2. And so the 200m final was to produce the first athlete to win two individual GOLD medals at the ongoing Games.
Ofoku came out of the bend first and held a strong lead, but Uko, who clocked a Personal Best (PB) of 55.73s to win the 400m on Saturday, came from behind to finish strong, stopping the clock at 24.94s, her second PB in as many days. Ofoku settled for Silver in 25.31s, while her teammate Success Umukoro won Bronze in 25.75s.
Goodness Ireda of Delta State claimed his second GOLD and third medal of the competition, winning the Boys’ race in 23.70s to finish ahead of Bauchi’s Emmanuel Ajemu (24.08s) and Gadafi Suleiman Habobakar of Taraba (24.23s). Ireda had earlier won the High Jump title and Silver in the 100m.
The mixed 4x100m relays and 4x400m will serve as the climax of the 2018 NYG.
