Chidera Ezeakor clinched GOLD in the men’s 100m on Day 2 of the National Sports Festival (NSF) in Abeokuta, clocking 10.27s to cap off a dominant sprint campaign. The Edo State athlete, who had already turned heads with a 10.22s Personal Best (PB) in the heats, completed an Edo 1-2 as Enoch Adegoke followed closely for Silver in 10.34s. Bronze went to Rivers’ Taiwo James Emmanuel, who finished with a time of 10.43s.
In the women’s 100m final, Kate Odumoso delivered under pressure, winning a tightly contested race in 11.45s. The Delta State sprinter completed a clean sweep, having won all her rounds en route to GOLD. Her teammate Obi Jennifer Chukwuka claimed Silver in 11.55s, extending Delta’s medal tally in the sprints.
Ogun State’s Iyanuoluwa Bada took the Bronze medal in 11.58s, while Success Umukoro winded down in 6th in 11.78s.
Ronke Akanbi sent the home crowd into raptures with a stunning performance in the women’s 1500m final, storming to GOLD in 4:17.90. The Ogun State athlete played her cards perfectly in what became a tactical duel with National 800m Champion Comfort James. Holding back until the bell, Akanbi unleashed a decisive kick in the final lap to pull away convincingly, leaving James to settle for Silver for Akwa Ibom in 4:26.79.
Drama unfolded in the battle for Bronze as Plateau State’s Munilikat Danladi, in medal position, stumbled just 10 metres from the line. That opened the door for Lagos State’s Grace Onah, who powered through to snatch 3rd place in 4:38.25.
Patience Okon-George (Rivers State) laid down a commanding marker in the women’s 400m heats at the NSF, cruising to victory in Heat 1 with a Season’s Best (SB) of 52.55s – the fastest time across all heats. She finished well ahead of her teammate Miracle Sunny, who posted 54.74s.
Tosin Oyindamola also impressed, winning her heat in 54.81s, while Anita Enaruna, fresh off a Silver medal with Edo State’s mixed 4x400m team, took her race in 54.99s. In Heat 4, Toheebat Jimoh was in a class of her own, powering to victory by nearly ten metres in 55.89s. Meanwhile, Odot Udo edged out a tight finish in the final heat, clocking 54.62s just ahead of Happy Rasheed.
Gafar Badmus delivered the standout performance of the men’s 400m heats, clocking a sensational PB of 45.92s. The Ogun State athlete obliterated his previous mark by over half a second, having only broken 47 seconds for the first time two months ago at the MTN Champs in Benin.
Samson Nathaniel posted the second fastest time overall, winning his heat in 46.25s ahead of Ezekiel Asuquo, who ran a new PB of 47.17s. In the opening heat, David Akhalu impressed with a PB of 46.36s, holding off Sikiru Adeyemi who finished in 46.99s.
Emmanuel Ojeli, who had focused on short sprints earlier this season, returned to his main event with a 46.57s win in his heat. Victor Sampson followed with a comfortable 46.84s, while other heat winners included Nnamani Johnson (47.21s), Sodiq Owoyemi (PB of 47.23s), and Garba Nura (47.73s).
