It was an action-packed Day 2 of the 2023 Nigerian Trials for the World Championships ongoing at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin. Athletes re-ignited fierce rivalries in the men’s and women’s 200m, 400m, 400m hurdles, Long Jump and women’s Discus and Hammer throws among other events.
Having placed 3rd in the men’s 100m the previous day, Alaba Akintola became a two-time National champion in the 200m, successfully defending his crown in Benin. Alaba pulled clear of the field a clear winner in a time of 20.67s, with newly-minted 100m Champion Usheoritse Itsekiri finishing 2nd in 20.92s, and Adebisi Musibau 3rd in 21.00s.
Faith Okwose won her first senior National title, holding off Tiana Eyakpobeyan in a keenly contested women’s 200m final. Okwose got to the line in 1st place, winning in 23.51s, just two-hundredths faster than Eyakpobeyan while Rejoice Sule finished 3rd in 23.79s.
In a closely fought men’s 400m final in Benin, Chidi Okezie produced a clutch performance as he took off from Lane 2 and warded off the challenge posed by Dubem Nwachukwu and Samuel Ogazi to win in a time of 45.82s, adding to the title he secured in 2021.
Baylor’s Imaobong Uko paced herself well to win the women’s race in 52.07s, with Omolara Omotosho 2nd in 52.87s and Queen Usunobun 3rd in 53.16s. This is her first title at the National Championships since bursting into the limelight at the 2018 National Youth Games and National Sports Festival.
It was an unforgettable day for Prosper Ekporere who gave everything in the men’s 110m Hurdles final to win his first ever National title. Ekporere was way ahead of the field, racing to a new Personal Best (PB) of 13.66s and breaking his previous PB set over a year to win his first national title ahead of Wisdom Musa.
In the women’s 400m Hurdles semis, Abasiono Akpan despite almost falling while coming off the blocks, quickly caught up and was leading by the second hurdle, taking her heat in 59.97s while Ezekiel Nathaniel took it easy in the men’s race which he won. The final for both events will come up this evening.
National Sports Festival champion last December, Ashley Anumba emerged the new Nigerian Champion in women’s Discus, and what better way to do it than throwing a new PB of 61.98m to claim her first National title, earning enough ranking points to be on the cusp of the World Championships in Budapest.
Commonwealth Games Champion Chioma Onyekwere-Lyons followed with a mark of 56.84m as Obiageri Amaechi placed 3rd with 55.53m. Sade Olatoye also retained her crown in the women’s Hammer event.
