All-Nigeria Athletics Championships: Ogunlewe Emerges new sprint king as Osazuwa sets new national record

The final day of competition at the All-Nigeria Athletics Championships in Warri, Delta State. was dotted with upsets as a number of new champions emerged across the different categories of events.

Seyi Ogunlewe emerged the new sprints king as he won the 100m Men’s event while Uhunoma Naomi Osazuwa set a new national record of 6,106 points to secure victory in Heptathlon on Day 2 of competition at the Warri Township stadium.

Osazuwa‘s performance guarantees her an automatic qualification spot for Beijing 2015 World Championships this month.

On his part, Seyi Ogunlewe emerged the country’s new sprint king with his shock performance in the men’s 100m event where he beat two former national champions.

Ogunlewe, who is based in the United Kingdom, claimed his own maiden national title as he won the 100m men’s event with a time of 10.19secs ahead of former champion, Ogho Egwero, who posted a time of 10.21secs.

Jonathan Nmaju settled for third spot with his time of 10.33s while another former champion, Obinna Metu, could only manage fourth spot with his 10.35secs finish.

There was a bigger upset in the women’s 200m event where many had thought Glory Asumnu would complete a sprint double; having won the 100m event a day earlier in the absence of Blessing Okagbare.

That was however not the case as Africa Junior Champion, Praise Idamadudu, finished tops with her time of 23.48secs while Asumnu came second with a time of 23.53secs

Ngozi Onwumere and Lawretta Ozoh finished third and fourth respectively with their times of 23.74secs and 23.95secs.

Similarly in the men’s 200m event, it was Tega Odele who emerged the surprise winner with a time of 20.47secs while ex-champions Obinna Metu, and Oghene Egwero, came second and third with their times of 20.57secs and 20.60secs

More Upsets

Also, Patience Okon George, won the women’s 400m race final, ahead of Regina George, who many had tipped to reclaim the title she lost last year in Calabar.

For the men’s 400m race, Chidi Okezie(46.15s) was the winner, while Nathaniel Samson(46.20s) placed second and Noah Akwu 46.38s struggled for third spot.

Also in the final day of competition, Miles Ukaoma won his first national title in spectacular fashion; crossing the finish line in the 400m Hurdles event with a time of 48.86s.Henry Okorie(50.24s) and Amaechi Morton(50.54s) were second and third respectively

In the women’s version, Amaka Ogoegbunam emerged the new champion with a time of (55.78s), National record holder, Ajoke Odumosu finished second at 56.56s and Glory Nathaniel third (57.44s).

In other events, Deborah Pam won Gold in Women’s 10,000 race as she posted a time of 36:27.04 while Onan Saleh took silver in 36:59.08 and Aderonke Olumudi bronze in 38:07.75.

Gyang Emmanuel won the men’s version with a time of 30:13.07secs ahead of Kefas Williams, who finished second with (30:38.20) and Godfrey Monday third. (30:53.03).

In the men’s High Jump, rave of the moment, Theddus Okpara, scaled a height of 2.10m to emerge the winner while veteran Obiora Arinze was confined to second spot having failed to jump more than 2.05m and Abayomi Ashipa (2.05m)