Okon clinches 100m title as favourite, Ekanem is disqualified

Winner of 100m men, Sunday Israel Okon. He clocked 10.20secs at the AFN/MoC National Trials for Africa Games in Asaba…..yesterday

Olajide Is Fastest Woman
Race favorite, Consider Ekanem, disappointed athletics fans, who came to watch him run at the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) African Games National Trials, yesterday, in Asaba, as he was ejected from men’s 100m final because of false start.

In his absence, Israel Okon Sunday won the race in 10.20sec, beating Fakorede Adekalu (10.26sec) and Enoch Adegoke who posted 10.30secs

In the women’s race, Olayinka Olajide, running in lane three, confidently coasted home after breaking away from the pack. She finished at 11.19secs, posting a Personal Best.  Bless Ogundiran was second with 11.50 and Favour Onyebuchi came in third in 11.66seconds

Meanwhile, former Nigerian international sprinter, Gabriel Okon has said with the right atmosphere of training and motivation, Nigerian male runners can dominate the African sprints, from where they have been banished for quite some time.

Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala remains African top sprinter with his 9.77secs and he remains a man to beat at the African Games, with South African’s Akane Simbine providing a credible competition.

But according to Okon, Nigeria is still a force to reckon with, after the reign of Olusoji Fasuba came to an end on the continent.

“Nigerian men sprinters are coming up. There is Godson Brume, Udodi Onwuzurike, Alaba Akintola, and then lately Consider Ekanem. These are boys have huge potentials.”

Okon also welcome the emergence of Ruth Usoro in the women long jump saying it is a development that will benefit the and country. “Ese Brume and Ruth Usoro is a good prospect for Nigeria. It is a rivalry that will push the