Team Nigeria has won eight gold and six medals in day one of the ongoing Confederation of African Athletics U18/U20 Region II Championships in Dakar, Senegal
Nigerian youngsters dominated the sprint events with Tejiri Godwin winning the 100m U-20 men’s event in 10.35secs just as Bright Gift also won the gold in the U18 Boys’ 100m final in 10.41secs.
It is same in the female category with Lucy Nwankwo picked gold medal in the U-20 women’s 100m with 11:41secs while Rosemary Chigozie won the U18 final in the 100m girls in 11:35 secs. Tejiri Ugoh picked silver on the race.
In the 400 metres U18 women’s race, Faith Ezechukwu picked another gold while Jecinter Lawrence won silver. David Udoh won U18 men’s 400m silver.
Plateau-born Gang James Boyi, rose to the occasion in the U20 men’s 1500m winning the gold.
In the field events, Nigeria won gold in U20 Men’s Discus as Success Okeleke threw 47.10m.
Teammate Emmanuel Shakamomodu Audu completed a Nigerian 1-2 finish, claiming silver with a throw of 47.00m. Audu, however, won gold in the Shot Put event while Okeleke picked silver.
In the U18 women’s Long Jump, Adaeze Ezeh soared to 5.67m to claim silver in Dakar, Senegal.
President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and President of CAA Region II, West Africa, Chief Tonobok Okowa, who is on the ground in Dakar with the team is feeling excited at the performance of the young athletes.
Okowa, said that the great outing was an indication of a brighter future of athletics in the country and that the federation will continue to invest in grassroots programmes to develop more talents.
The AFN boss congratulated the athletes, coaches and other officials in Dakar for the medals haul and excellent participation at the championships.
Team Nigeria is expected to win more medals today, being the final day of the competition.