Nigeria's Golden girl, Amusan storms Benin for National Athletics Trials

Posted : 14 June 2024

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World record holder in the women's 100m hurdles and the fastest in the 100m hurdles this year, Tobi Amusan, has arrived in Nigeria ahead of the highly anticipated Athletics Federation of Nigeria National Trials in Benin City, Edo State, South-South Nigeria.

Also in town for the mother of all National Trials is brisk sprinter who is the fastest Nigerian runner in the 100m this year, Favour Ashe, and National high jump record breaker, Temitope Adeshina.

According to information from the venue of the trials, almost all foreign-based athletes have arrived in Nigeria for the event, which the AFN is using to select the nation's athletes for the African Senior Championships held in Douala, Cameroon, and the Paris Olympics.

The Technical Director of the AFN, Samuel Onikeku, stated that virtually all the top athletes are already in various hotels in Lagos, and the rest are expected to arrive on Friday.

“We already have a full house," Onikeku said.

"Tobi Amusan is in town, we also have the sizzling hot sprinter, Ashe Favour, the new 'Kid On The Throne' in high jump, Temitope Adeshina, and many others. We are expecting just a few more from the United States," Onikeku stated.

One athlete that Nigerians will be watching closely at the Trials at the famous Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City is record breaker high jumper Temitope Adeshina.

Adeshina recently set a mark of 1.97m for the National Record and Personal Best at the NCAA championships in Eugene, Oregon, United States.

In the sprint event, all eyes will be on Favour Ofili in the women's 100m and 200m, as well as Favour Ashe, Godson Brume, and Udodi Onwuzurike in the men's event.

The rivalry between Ese Brume and Ruth Usoro will be another interesting battle to watch in the long jump arena, just as record holder Samuel Ogazi and Chidi Okezie are expected to set the track ablaze in the 400m event.

African Games champion, Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, will be the cynosure of all eyes in the shot put event.

AFN's advance party will arrive in Benin City on Friday to meet with the Chairman of Edo State Sports Commission (ESSC), Yusuf Alli, to finalize arrangements for the National Trials, which are returning to the Art and Cultural capital of Nigeria.

The President of the Federation, Chief Tonobok Okowa, says the athletics governing body will select only the very best athletes capable of winning medals for the country at the African Senior Championships in Douala, the economic capital of Cameroon.

"For years, we have been striving to top the medals table at the African Senior Championships, and I believe we have the opportunity to make history this year in Douala, Cameroon, based on the quality of stars at our disposal," Okowa, who is also the President of Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Region 2, stated.

“We will select only our best athletes in this National Trials not just for our trip to Cameroon but also for the Paris Olympic Games," Okowa added.

Nigeria's Golden girl, Amusan storms Benin for National Athletics Trials

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