With Nigeria set to host the African U-18 & U-20 Athletics Championships from July 16th to 20th, the National U-18 and U-20 Trials took place in Sagamu, Ogun State, from June 30th to July 1st, 2025, to select the host nation’s contingent to the event.
Miracle Ezechukwu (11.97s) and Rosemary Nwankwo (12.27s) were the top performers in the U-18 Girls’ 100m and 200m, respectively. They won their respective semifinal heats easily to secure spots in the final, which Ezechukwu won with a time of 12.00s (-2.7). Nwankwo finished 2nd in 12.11s, while Perezide Sigah came in 3rd in 12.25s. Ezechukwu’s Season’s Best (SB) is a mark of 11.89s clocked in March, with her Personal Best (PB) pegged at 11.64s from last October. Nwankwo’s PB is 11.80s from the NSF in Abeokuta.
Destiny Egbon claimed the U-18 Boys’ 100m crown, winning the final in 11.09s (-4.1). Adeniyi Adeola and Ajibare Ibrahim followed in 2nd and 3rd respectively.
In the women’s U-20 100m final, Chioma Cynthia Nweke snatched the win in 1.77s (-2.9), with Success Oyibu (12.00s), and Lucy Nwankwo (12.13s) following.
John Caleb was the man to beat in the U-20 category, crossing the line in 10.75s (-3.6). Mayowa Saliu came 2nd in 10.96s, while Oluwatobi Malik finished 3rd in 10.98s.
The top two positions in the Girls’ U-18 200m weren’t different from the outcome in the 100m. Ezechukwu dominated the race once again, returning a time of 24.06s (0.1) as Nwankwo followed in 24.53s. Mariam Jegede settled for 3rd in 24.80s.
Perfect Faye from Bayelsa State won the Boys’ U-18 boys’ 200m final with a new lifetime best of 21.68s. Ajibare Ibrahim finished 2nd in 21.71s, while Destiny Egbon placed 3rd in 21.98s.
In a surprising twist, Oyibu stunned Nweke to grab the win in the Women’s U20 200m final, coming out strong from the bend and racing ahead to win in 23.80s (-0.6). Nwankwo ran a new PB of 24.15s in 2nd while Nweke settled for 3rd in a time of 24.20s.
Caleb completed the sprint double, adding the U-20 men’s 200m title to the 100m GOLD he won earlier, posting a time of 21.37s (-1.1). Joachim Uyovwiyoma (21.88s), and Oluwatobi Malik (22.01s) were 2nd and 3rd respectively.
Jecinta Lawrence made a strong statement in the U-18 Girls’ 400m final with a PB of 55.42s. In the U-20 class, Toheebat Jimoh ran a brilliant race to win her first individual national title in a new PB of 54.04s. Jimoh has had a successful month, winning two GOLD medals at the National Sports Festival in Ogun State. Hafsoh Majekodunmi won the B Final with a new PB of 55.09s.
Gafar Badmus went on to dominate the men’s 400m Junior final, winning in 45.78s. David Akhalu finished 2nd in a PB of 46.34s as Team MTN’s Ezekiel Asuquo also clocked a PB (46.42s) to take 3rd place.
Mary Chioma Edeh from Nnewi, Anambra State, claimed her first national title in the U18 Girls’ 800m, winning with a time of 2:13.93. Edeh started competing in Athletics only in 2024 and has quickly made a mark in the sport.
Christian Dickson won the U-20 men’s 110m hurdles in 14.46s (-2.8), beating Oseiwe Salami. This was Dickson’s first national title in this event.
Emerald Makua won the U-18 Girls’ Shot put national title with a throw of 13.60m. However, she was not satisfied, as she had hoped to throw over 14m.
