Olympic, Continental Slots Up for Grabs as Nigeria Athletics Trials Commence Today in Benin City

Top class Nigeria athletes are expected to excite spectators from today 16  to 22 June 2024 in the National Athletics Trials slated for the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, Edo State.

The center of attraction at the National Championship are the men and women’s long and short sprints, with renowned athletes like Tobi Amusan, Favour Ofili, Rosemary Chukwuma and Ashe Favour, ready to set the stage alight.

Much attention is focused on the event as it’s a selection ground for Team Nigeria to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games and the African Seniors Athletics Championship in Douala, Cameroon later next week.

Athletes who are yet to hit the qualifying mark are looking forward to making their faces known in Benin City while those who have booked their tickets to Paris look to consolidate on the feat.

For Nigerian athletics officials, it is heart warming sight and a melody of glad tidings to see Nigerian men sprinters bouncing back again after been overshadowed by Ferdinand Omanyala of Kenya and Akani Simbine of South Africa in recent years.

Spearheading Nigeria’s march to reshape the African storyline is Ashe Favour whose speed and agility have consistently earned him sub 10.00 second performances.

He has a season and personal best of 9.94 seconds.

The A list sprinter is on the quest to erase Olusoji Fasuba’s national record of 9.88 seconds set in 2006.

Godson Brume is another sprinter on a speed mode, establishing himself as a force to reckon with by posting a Personal Best of 9.90 seconds and a season best of 9.99 seconds.

Udodi Uwazurike, the final piece of the men’s trio is begining to rediscover himself, grabbing all the attention after being slowed down by injury.

Udodi has a Personal Best of 9.92 seconds and a season best of 10.24 seconds.

He remains the athlete to beat over 200m with a personal best of 19.76 seconds and a season best of 20.13seconds.

Kayinsola Ajayi with 10.01seconds season and Personal Best is also a strong contender in the field that is expected to produce an African or world leading time ahead of the African Athletics Championships and Olympics.

In the women’s category, Favour Ofili takes the spotlight with a personal best of 10.78 seconds and a national record of 21.96 seconds.

The athletics amazon, is closely followed by Rosemary Chukwuma and Tima  Godbless, another sprinter of note coming to the party.

The men and women’s 400m is another category worthy of mention.

For the first time in a number of many years, Nigeria can boast of four 44.00 seconds runners in the men’s quarter mile.

Samuel Ogazi leads the pack with 44.52 seconds trailed by Dubem Nwachukwu, Bamidele Emmanuel and Chidi Okezie.

In the same vein, Ella Onojuvwevwo, Elo Esther Joseph and Omolara Omotosho Ogumakinju also have a shot at glory.

In the field, all eyes will be on high jump sensation Temitope Adeshina to display her new found form in front of the home crowd.

She has only the cross bar to contend with as she aims to clear 2.00 meters after attaining 1.97meter height recently to erase her national record.

Ese Brume is still holding sway in the women’s long jump.

She is aiming for her fourth African Championships title in Douala, Cameroon.

Compatriots Ruth Usoro with a personal best of 6.87m and up and coming former junior athlete Prestina Ochonogor 6.67m are hot on her heels.

Meanwhile, the President of the Federation, Chief Tonobok Okowa, says the athletics governing body will select only the very best, who are capable of winning medals for the country at the African Seniors Championships in Douala the economic capital of Cameroon.  

“For years, we have been looking for a way to top the medals table at the African Seniors Championships, and I believe we have the chance to make history this year in Douala, Cameroon based on the quality of stars at our disposal,” Okowa who is also the President of Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Region 2 stated.

“We will select only our best athletes in this National Trials not just for our trip to Cameroon but also for the Paris Olympic Games.”