Spectators at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan, Ivory Coast witnessed the dominance of Team Nigeria on the track as five of the seven medals won by the team, came from track events.
After picking up three medals from the field events on Day 1, the team continued in its rich vein of form on the track to continue its impressive medal acquisition at the championship.
Enoch Adegoke led the medal proceedings for the track events in the men’s 100m U20 when he dashed to the finish line with a new Season Best (SB) and Championship Record (CR) of 10.27s to win Gold in the race while South African duo of Phatushedzo Maswanganyi and Luke Davids had to settle for Silver and Bronze medals respectively in the race.
Rosemary Chukwuma led a 1-3 medal charge in the women’s 100m U20 category. The Youth Olympic Champion controlled the race and crossed the finish line with an impressive SB of 11.62s. Nigeria’s junior champion Grace Nwokocha was third while South Africa’s Rose Xeyi was second in the race.
Reigning African Youth Games 400m Champion Favour Ofili crossed the finish line in 52.27s to win Gold and shaved off over one second from her previous PB of 53.57s.
Ofili who opened her season at with a 200m PB of 23.74s at the Nigerian junior championships last month in Ilaro has now won two different continental titles and would be looking to add the 200m title of this championship to her collection.
In a close finish, Praise Oforku edged out teammate Anita Taviore to claim third place in the Girls U18 100m event while Glory Patrick was third in the Girls U18 400m event to win a Bronze medal.
Finally, on the track, the duo of Wisdom Musa and Yusuf Mohammed placed a 1-2 finish in the Men’s U20 110m Hurdles with times of 14.45s and 14.48s.
The other two medals of the day for the team, was from the field event as Olaoluwa Olatunde was third in the Boys U18 category of the Long Jump while Esther Osisike also won Bronze in the Discus event.
After events from day 2, Nigeria has a total of 10 medals (5 Gold Medals and 5 Bronze Medals.
(Text and Photo credits: Temitope Idowu for AthleticsAfrica)
