Patience Okon-George, one of Nigeria’s longest-serving quarter-milers, continues her reign in the women’s 400m, while Favour Ashe and Iyanoluwa Bada dominated the 100m on Day 2 of the MTN CHAMPS Continental Relays in Lagos.
The second day of the meet maintained the high-energy and electrifying performances that kickstarted the opening day, with numerous medals won across various categories at the Yabatech and Unilag Sports Complexes.
33-year-old Okon-George ruled the women’s 400m to claim her fifth national title, extending her dominance from the previous day with a strong Season’s Best (SB) of 52.67s. She finished ahead of Team MTN’s Miracle Donald-Uwem (55.10s) and Pemisire Adepoju Adedoyin (56.29s).
Former national champion Samson Nathaniel showed class in the men’s 400m, crossing the line in 46.71s. Team MTN’s Benjamin Magaji matched his Personal Best (PB) of 48.04s to secure 2nd place, while Deji Sholotan finished 3rd in 48.31s.
As anticipated, Ashe blazed to victory in the men’s 100m, clocking 10.28s ahead of Chidera Ezeakor (10.38s) and Thankgod Igube (10.49s).
Bada secured the women’s title with a marginal wind-aided time of 11.30s (+2.6m/s), while Flore-Julie Krakre and Janet Adesiyan finished 2nd and 3rd in 11.86s and 11.90s, respectively.
In the junior category, John Caleb extended his unbeaten streak, claiming the men’s 100m title with a time of 10.45s. Qudus Akintoye followed in 10.65s, while Abdulrahman Jimoh secured 3rd place in 10.75s.
Team MTN’s Lucy Nwankwo dipped under 12 seconds for the first time, leading a Team MTN sweep in the junior women’s 100m final. She set a new lifetime best of 11.99s, finishing ahead of Mercy Ogbonna (12.16s) and Azeezat Muhammed Raji (12.18s), with all three improving on their personal bests from the semifinals.
Hamid Sambo was the man to beat in the 1500m, returning a time of 3:59.12, while Ronke Akanbi won the women’s event.
Rukevwe Godsgift Nwagbowu caused an upset in the men’s Long Jump, dethroning favorite Ibukun Daramola with a winning leap of 7.47m. Daramola recorded 7.39m in his final attempt to place 2nd, while Jeffrey Miracle secured 3rd with 7.25m.
In the women’s Long Jump, Mary Adeniran set a new PB of 6.14m to clinch the title. Glory Jarrett and Precious Okoronkwo followed in 2nd and 3rd place, respectively.