Team MTN emerged victorious at the MTN CHAMPS Continental Relays in Lagos, showcasing their dominance in the Junior (U20) category. The MoC Athletics Club members captivated the audience with their impressive performances, securing numerous victories, personal bests (PBs), and championship titles across various events.
Building on their success in Benin, where they won eight medals (2 GOLD, 3 SILVER, 3 BRONZE), Team MTN returned to Lagos with renewed vigor. They clinched a total of 14 medals — 6 GOLD, 7 SILVER, and 1 BRONZE — and claimed the overall Junior team title with a commanding 125 points. Their closest competitors, No Sweat and Osheku Striders, both finished with 69 points.
Team MTN excelled in the sprint events, placing at least two finalists in every category except the Men’s 100m. Their victories included the Junior Women’s 100m and 400m, Junior Men’s 400m, Youth Girls’ 400m, and both the Junior Men’s and Women’s 4x100m relays.
A standout moment was their podium sweep in the Junior Women’s 100m, led by Lucy Nwankwo, who clocked a lifetime best of 11.99s. She was followed by Mercy Ogbonna (12.16s) and Azeezat Muhammed-Raji (12.18s), both setting new PBs in the final. Nwankwo also claimed Silver in the 200m with another PB of 24.64s, while Muhammed-Raji (25.30s) and Ogbonna (25.69s) placed 4th and 6th, respectively.
Ezekiel Asuquo delivered a stunning upset in the Junior Men’s 400m final, clocking a PB of 47.26s to defeat the season favorite, Gafar Badmus. He also secured Silver in the 200m with a time of 21.62s, following his PB of 21.57s in the heats, which was the fastest overall time.
In the Junior Women’s 400m, Toheebat Jimoh claimed GOLD with a powerful finish in 55.7s, while teammate Patience Joseph placed 5th in 58.2s. Chizoba Onyemauwa triumphed in the Youth Girls’ 400m, upgrading her Bronze from Benin to GOLD with a PB of 58.40s.
Alvin Onyeama impressed in both the 100m and 200m, improving his PB to 10.62s in the 100m semis and finishing 5th in both finals. Emmanuel Obi placed 5th in the Junior Men’s 200m, while Fervent Edet finished 7th in the Youth Boys’ 100m final.
Team MTN’s relay teams also shone, winning both the Junior Men’s (42.70s) and Junior Women’s (48.07s) 4x100m relays. They secured Silver in the Senior Mixed 4x400m with a time of 3:31.09.
In the Senior category, Benjamin Magaji matched his PB of 48.04s to win his 400m heat and claim Silver in the final. Miracle Uwem Donald set a new PB of 54.59s in the 400m, earning Silver after winning her heat, and added another Silver medal in the 200m.
Showers Ushie joined the sub-11 club in the men’s 100m, winning his heat in 10.79s before posting 10.89s in the semifinals.
Team Continental claimed the Senior team trophy, thanks to standout performances by Favour Ashe and Emmanuel Ojeli, who won the men’s 100m and 200m titles, respectively. They also contributed to victories in both the mixed 4x100m and 4x400m relays. Ashe teamed up with Iyanuoluwa Bada, Janet Adesiyan, and Chidera Ezeakor to win the mixed 4x100m, while Ojeli partnered with Samson Nathaniel, Patience Okon-George, and Miracle Uwem Donald to secure GOLD in the mixed 4x400m.
Team Continental topped the Senior category with 128 points, followed by EagleSight (93 points) and Agroterra (68 points).