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Nigeria: NSC/AFN Relays - Delta Dethroned in Calabar
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This Day (Lagos)
12 May 2008
Posted to the web 12 May 2008
Lagos
Delta, Ondo, Ogun and the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) shared the medals of the second leg of the NSC/AFN National Relay at the one-day event at the UJ Esuene Stadium Calabar on Saturday.
Delta State, the winner of the first leg in Abuja a forth-night ago, failed to reproduce the magic that gave the back-to-back National Sports Festival champions the three gold medals in the relays.
Delta, Ondo, Ogun and the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) shared the medals of the relays competition, which had a record attendance of 21 states and club from across the country.
At the start of the competition, the athletics showed much enthusiasm, but the rain came pouring down to dampen the occasion, but this did not deter the athletes.
The quartet of Glory Bassey, Dairo Yemi, Adekule Jasper and Agnes Osazuwa showed that team work pays when they easily took the women 4x100m in a hand timed 45.1secs.
Nigeria Civil Defence Corps featuring Emem Edem, Joy Diga, Susan Akene and Queen Ogbemudia where second with 46.1, while Edo placed third with 47.4.
In the men's 4x100m race, Ogun State pushed Delta to second place, coasting home in 40.4 to win the gold.
The Delta quartet that won the first series in Abuja were clumsy in their exchange at the second leg, they managed a 40. 7, while Osheku Athletic Club finished third with 40.8
Delta showed their class in the women 4x400m as Blessing Ephraim, Nkiru Nwodo, Endurance Abinuwa and Grace Chinekwere finished 3.46.44 for the gold. Much of the work was done by Abinuwa fresh with African Championship gold 4x400m experience. Edo and National Civil Defence Corps finished respectively with 3.48.24 and 3.48. 54.
Ondo finished tops in the men's category with 2.14.13, Olabisi Onabanjo University where second with 3.16.05, Ogun was third with 3.16.47. Delta did not qualify for the final although they placed second in the semi-final heat. The finalists were the first in each heat and the rest fastest racers.
The 100 and 400m flat where also decided. But heavy rains prevented the athletes from pushing for a better performance.
Nwogu Onyeabor topped the men sprint with 10.4secs; he was raced to the finish line by training partner, Obinna Metu. He finished 10.5, while Ogho Egwero was third at 10.7.
In the women's Osazuwa of the OOU took the race at 11.51, while Akene and Edem followed with 11.72 and 11.93 respectively.
Speaking afterwards Akene a 4x100m gold medalist at the African championships said the competition should be sustained if Nigerian athletes are to do well at
international events.
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"We need more of these competitions. They will enable us to improve individually and as a relay team," Akene said.
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