Nigeria’s young stars lit up the MKO Abiola Sports Complex, Abeokuta with a series of stunning performances on Day 3 of the African U-18/U-20 Athletics Championships, led by double gold in the women’s 400m and a surprise victory in the men’s high jump, Bold Sports reports.
In the U-20 women’s 400m final, it was an all-Nigerian affair on the podium as Favour Onyah powered home in 52.47s to claim her second gold medal of the competition. The confident sprinter timed her final push to perfection and was already smiling down the home straight as she pulled clear of her compatriots.
Anita Enaruna, who wasn’t even sure she would be running the individual event prior to the competition, dipped to take silver in a personal best of 52.97s. Just a whisker behind was Toheebat Jimoh, who clocked a lifetime best of 53.00s to win bronze, rounding off a dominant 1-2-3 finish for Nigeria.
There was more gold for Nigeria in the U-18 women’s 400m final, as Chioma Nwachukwu stormed to victory in 52.47s. It was her first international competition for Nigeria, and she made it count, pulling clear of the field to win by nearly two seconds. Right behind her was fellow Nigerian Hafsoh Majekodunmi, who ran a new personal best of 54.43s to take silver on home soil in Abeokuta. Ethiopia’s Bisset Bikes claimed bronze in 55.31s.
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Nigeria’s medal rush didn’t stop there. In one of the most heartwarming moments of the day, Honourable Victor Clement—living up to both his name and expectations—delivered a personal best jump of 2.10m to win the men’s U20 high jump gold. It was a breakthrough moment for Clement, who entered the competition with a lifetime best of 1.85m, set over a year ago.
The men’s U-20 400m final was one of the most fiercely contested races of the championship so far. Botswana’s Justice Oratile stunned the home crowd with a clinical finish to win gold in 45.58s.
But it was Nigeria’s Ezekiel Eno Asuquo who provided the story of the evening, clocking a personal best of 45.83s to grab silver in what was just his first international outing. His teammate, Victor Sampson, took bronze in 45.87s, narrowly edging out another Nigerian, Gafar Badmus, who finished fourth with 45.95s.
Earlier in the heats, Badmus had emerged as the fastest qualifier with 45.82s and had looked like the gold medal favourite, but the final proved otherwise. Asuquo, who started the season with a personal best of 49s, has now carved his name into the record books with this remarkable progression.
South Africa also got in on the record-breaking action. In the U-18 boys’ 110m hurdles final, Phenyo Miyen clocked 13.27s (-1.5 wind) to win gold and break the championship record previously held by compatriot Naeem Jack (13.31s).
In the U-18 boys’ 400m, Kenya’s Simeon Araka extended his country’s impressive form outside long distances, winning gold in 47.46s. Ghana’s Odjer Tettey claimed his nation’s first medal of the championship, finishing second in 47.87s, while Kenya’s Robert Sang was third in 47.89s.
South Africa added another gold in the U-18 girls’ long jump, where Oluchi Abelwe Ndubueze – who has a Nigerian origin – led from start to finish, leaping 5.79m to secure victory. Nigeria’s Emerald Makua finished third in the U-18 women’s shot put with a throw of 14.30m, behind Namibia’s Marika Weitz (16.32m) and Egypt’s Eab Tamek Alaa (14.58m).
In the U-20 women’s 100m hurdles, Nigeria’s Precious Okeoghene opened the afternoon session with a strong run to win silver in 13.68s (-0.6), behind South Africa’s Tumi Ramokgopa who struck gold in 13.52s.
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