AFN Golden League: Three Down, Two to Go

…As Egwero, Osazuwa, Onakoya, Abogoloko Speed to Victory

The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) Golden League third leg ended in Abuja at the weekend with Ogho Oghene Egwero further lowering the 100m time to claim his third consecutive victory and also aiming for the prize money.

Egwero won the race with a time of 10.26seconds to stay in contention for a share in the N3m jackpot prize on line in the league.

Obinna Metu of the Nigerian Prison Service club and Benjamin Adukwu of the Nigerian Army came second and third with a time of 10.45 and 10.50 respectively.

The Delta State athlete, who struggled with hamstring hours before the event at the Abuja National Stadium hard earlier, won his semi final race in 10.31, an improvement over the 10.33 he won at the Ado Ekiti leg penultimate weekend.

“I am really getting into the groove now,” smiled the petit runner as he fielded questions at a post race chat. “I believe I can still do better on this time with more concentration on my training programme. If I continue like this, there is nothing stopping me from running a 10 flat or even running a sub 10,” stressed Egwero who is going to compete at the CAA meet in Dakar this weekend.

Agnes Osazuwa, who is competing in the League for the first time, easily won the women sprint event with a time of 11.53seconds, leaving Deborah Odeyemi from the A-Class club and Goodness Thomas of Police team ran a time of 11.68 and 11.80 respectively to pick the second and third places respectively.

Osazuwa told reporters after the race that she has started her season on a good note with the 11.53 she posted in Abuja. “I have never started my season with an 11.5 before. What this means to me personally is that if I have an injury free season, I should be able to get to the podium at the All Africa Games in September.”

However, it was the results of the men 400m that gladdens the hearts of AFN chiefs most where Abiola Onakoya, Segun Ogunkole and Tobi Ogunmola all ran the A- standard under of 46 seconds. They posted 45.89, 45.91 and 45.92 respectively.

In the women version of the quarter-mile, Bukola Abogunloko ran a slow 53.39 to remain in contention for a share in the jackpot prize money. Nkiruka Nwakwe and Josephine Ehigie took the second and third position respectively with a time 53.50 and 53.76.

In the relays, Delta State remained the team to beat in the series as Egwero anchored their 4x100m quartet to gold with 40.09seconds. Delta won the first two legs. Similarly, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) retained their 4x100m women gold, clocking 45.25.

Meanwhile, the Director General of the National Sports Commission Dr Patrick Ekeji who witnessed the Abuja leg of the series along side other top officials of the commission commended the AFN for the League.

He said that the series of competitions carried out so far by AFN will go along way in adding Nigeria’s preparations for the All African Games slated to hold in Maputo in September this year.

While hinting that there is going to be a review of the concept of the sports associations as currently constituted in order to attract the private sector to participate.