The inaugural day of the MTN CHAMPS Continental Relays, held across the Yabatech and UNILAG Sports Complexes in Lagos, showcased a captivating display of athletic prowess, marked by exceptional performances and numerous personal bests in the 100m and 400m events. Athletes from various categories pushed their limits, delivering a thrilling spectacle for spectators and setting the stage for an exciting competition.
The men’s 100m event was a highlight of the day, with two-time Olympian Emmanuel Ojeli shattering his three-year-old personal best in the semifinals. His impressive time of 10.24s significantly distanced him from the competition, with Emmanuel Babalola and Ganiu Hassan trailing behind with times of 10.55s and 10.63s, respectively. Favour Ashe, fresh off his success at the Niger Delta Sports Festival, continued his dominant streak, clocking a wind-assisted 10.14s in his heat, followed closely by ThankGod Igube with 10.23s. Chidera Ezeakor also asserted his speed, winning his heat in 10.43s, ahead of Oriyomi Akala who finished with 10.56s. The fierce competition and impressive times signaled a thrilling final.
The women’s 100m event was equally electrifying, with Iyanu Bada showcasing remarkable improvement. Building on her preliminary round personal best of 11.48s, Bada further lowered her time to an impressive 11.38s in the semifinals. Janet Adesiyan and Favour Odiyeye completed the heat with respective times of 11.88s and 11.97s. Bada’s performance set a high bar and anticipation for the final race.
In the junior categories, the men’s 100m showcased the emerging talent of John Caleb, who improved his personal best with a time of 10.38s, securing the fastest qualifying time in his division. Qudus Akintoye and Abdulrahman Jimoh followed suit with times of 10.59s and 10.61s respectively, demonstrating the depth of young sprinting talent on display. Team MTN’s Lucy Nwankwo dominated the junior women’s 100m, setting the fastest time across all semifinals with a personal best of 12.07s. Her teammate Azeezat Muhammed-Raji followed closely behind with 12.20s, securing the second-fastest time overall. Ojone Akubo-Adegbe rounded out the top three with a time of 12.47s, highlighting the strength of Team MTN in the junior women’s sprint.
Beyond the 100m dashes, the 400m events provided their own share of impressive performances. Samson Nathaniel emerged as the fastest qualifier in the men’s 400m with a season’s best time of 46.20s, significantly outpacing Benjamin Magaji, who finished second overall with 48.28s. Two-time Olympian Patience Okon George marked her return to competition in the women’s 400m with a strong performance of 53.19s. Not to be outdone, Miracle Donald-Uwem set a new personal best of 54.59s, securing the second-fastest qualifying time and signaling her potential to challenge for a podium finish.
The first day of the MTN CHAMPS Continental Relays successfully laid the foundation for an exhilarating competition, with athletes exhibiting exceptional talent and determination across both sprint distances. The impressive times, personal bests, and emerging stars generated significant excitement for the upcoming finals. The competition highlighted not only the individual brilliance of the athletes but also the strength of the various teams represented, setting the stage for a dramatic culmination in the final day of events. The impressive showing on day one promises a fiercely competitive and exciting conclusion to the Relays as athletes vie for medals and team glory.
