Star Cast Headlines Day Two of National Athletics Trials in Benin City

All eyes will be on World record holder over women’s 100m Hurdles Tobi Amusan as the National Athletics Trials enter day 2 from 3pm today at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium in Benin City, Edo State.

The final of the event is expected to go in the way of Amusan after she schooled the field in yesterday’s semifinal

Elsewhere in the women’s high jump final, national record holder Temitope Adeshina is firm favourite for gold.

In yesterday’s opener, one of Nigeria’s hottest ladies over 100m this year, Favour Ofili, won her maiden National title in that event with a new personal best of 11.06 seconds

She brushed aside African Games silver medalist, Olayinka Olajide who finished in 11.37 seconds while Justina Eyakpobeyan, who recently won the 100m in the Confederation of African Athletics CAA Region 2 championship in Accra, Ghana and the Commonwealth Youth Games silver medal winner came in third in a time of 11.47 seconds.

Ofili has now qualified to represent Nigeria in the 100m and 200m events and becomes the second Nigerian woman after Tima Godbless to make the both sprint Olympic contests.

In the men’s 100m, Kanyinsola Ajayi also took his first title.

He put behind a fairly strong cast of runners in a time of 10.14 seconds.

Alaba Akintola came second in 10.16 seconds while immediate past champion, Usheoritse Itsekiri rrok bronze in a time od 10.22 seconds.

Ajayi’s time is not good enough for the Olympics as he needs to run 10.00 seconds to land in the fashion capital, Paris.

In the men’s Shot Put, Chukwuebuka Enekwechi successfully defended his title for the 4th successive time with a throw of 21.37m.

The President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Chief Tonobok Okowa commended Chukwuebuka Enekwechi significant achievement, describing him as Nigeria’s dependable Athlete.

The trials which end tomorrow 18 June are a selection ground for Team Nigeria to the African Senior athletics championships in Cameroon this week  and the Paris Olympic Games.