All Nigeria Track And Field Championships: Ese Brume And Seye Ogunlewe Retain Titles

As the race to qualify for the World championship heats up, Several Nigerian athletes are currently battling for time at the ongoing All Nigeria Track and Field Championships taking place at the National Stadium in Abuja.

The highlights of Day 1 was in the  Women’s 100m finals, although it was not an elite line up, but reigning junior champion Aniekeme Alphonsus took the opportunity by racing to victory in time of 11.52s, adding to the several victories she’s had this year for her school University of Port-Harcourt and Country. Blessing Ogundiran 11.70s and Mercy Ntia-Obong 11.70s followed in 2nd and 3rd places respectively.

Multiple National Gold medallist, Deborah Pam defended her title in the Women’s 5000m with time of 17:35.59 well ahead of Rose Akusho in 2nd place 17:52.59 and Elizabeth Nuhu 18:03.86 coming in as 3rd.

Nigeria’s reigning 400m champion, Patience Okon George and Abike Egbeniyi clocked 51.34s and 52.10s respectively to qualify for the World championship joining the duo of Yinka Ajayi and Margaret Bamgbose who had previously qualified.

In the field events, Long jumper Ese Brume who missed the Lausanne Diamond League last week due to visa issues, retained her National title with a distance of 6.40m. The Cyprus University student has already qualified for London few months ago.

” I wasn’t pleased with my result but I know that I’ll do better in my next competition ” – Brume

Perhaps in what will be his very first competitive race this year, Seye Ogunlewe cruised to a third consecutive National 100m title on Day 2, winning the race with of 10.30s, Obinna Metu came in 2nd in 10.36s followed by Harry Chukwudike 10.44s in 3rd.

The trials concludes tomorrow, still to be decided is the Men’s and women’s 200m champions, as the heats began today.