Ogunlewe retains 100m title, Egwero falls off radar

Sprinter, Seye Ogunlewe is Nigeria’s fastest man again as he successfully defended his national 100m title at the 2017 National Trials, which ends in Abuja today. He ran 10.30 seconds in the final yesterday evening.

In the build up to the Rio Olympic Games last year, Ogunlewe returned a time of 10.12secs to see off stiff opposition from the likes of Divine Oduduru and Ogho-Oghene Egwero. He had beaten Egwero to the crown in 2015 with a time of 10.19 seconds.

But yesterday in Abuja, Ogunlewe ran 10.30 seconds to finish ahead of former champion, Obinna Metu (10.36 seconds), while Chukwubuike Harry was third in 10.44 seconds. Egwero was the biggest disappointment of the day, as he finished fourth in the 100m race yesterday.

In the women’s long jump final, North Cyprus-based Ese Brume failed to achieve her pre-championship vow to leap to a personal best, as she jumped 6.46m. She had promised to record a new personal best record of 6.83m in the event so as to qualify for the London 2017 IAAF World Athletics Championship.

The 2017 Abuja National Trials was one of the poorest in terms of attendance, as majority of athletes, particularly those living in the U.S, did not show up. Technical officials were also lamenting, as they were ‘forced’ to bear the brunt of the trials due to paucity of funds. It was learnt that the officials will earn N4, 000 each for the three days period of the championship.Some ex-athletes at the Abuja stadium yesterday were former African sprint champion, Mary Onyali-Omagbemi and newly elected board member of the AFN, Brown Ebewele.