Benin City witnessed a vibrant start to the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) Golden League Series on Monday, with athletes recording a series of personal bests at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.
The inaugural day of competition featured remarkable performances in both track and field disciplines, as both emerging athletes and seasoned competitors established early benchmarks for the ongoing series.
In the men's senior discus throw (2kg), 19-year-old Nyherhovwo Benaiah Ofuoku emerged victorious with a dominant throw of 45.95 metres. This mark represents a significant personal best for the young athlete, further solidifying his position as a rising star in Nigerian athletics.
Chineme Akachiukwu Nweke secured the second position with a throw of 38.10 metres, also a personal best, while Emmanuel Shakamomodu Audu achieved a season's best of 36.27 metres to claim third place, showcasing the strength of the Edo State Sports Commission contingent.
On the track, Chidera Ezeakor won the men's 100 metres race with a time of 10.32 seconds, benefiting from a legal wind reading of +0.4. Tejiri Godwin followed closely, achieving a personal best of 10.37 seconds, and Gift Bright finished third in 10.49 seconds, also a new personal best, underscoring the competitive depth in the men's sprinting category.
The women's 100 metres final also provided a thrilling contest, with Chinoso Courage Odika crossing the finish line first in 11.69 seconds. Mariam Jegede came in a close second at 11.74 seconds, followed by Ejiro Peter in third place with 11.76 seconds.
The men's long jump final was a highlight of the day, featuring dramatic moments. Romeo Bernard leaped to 7.63 metres with a +0.6 wind reading, securing a new personal best and the victory. Hope Okoro and Nkemakolam Godswill both achieved 7.35 metres, with Okoro taking second place on countback due to a superior series of jumps. Jeffrey Miracle Onyia (7.22m) and Anthony Lucky Omosohwofa (7.14m) completed the top five in a closely fought competition.
In the women's senior javelin throw (600g), Victoria Effiom Kparika delivered the day's top field performance, with a personal best throw of 47.89 metres earning her first place.
Peace Udochukwu Eze secured second place with 43.27 metres, also a personal best, while Gladys Ugbome finished third with 30.79 metres. Ikomwosa Edith Enoma was fourth with 30.45 metres.
With numerous personal and season's best performances recorded on the opening day, the Golden League Series has established a high competitive standard in Benin City. The initial results suggest that spectators can anticipate even faster races, longer jumps, and greater distances as the series progresses.
Comments (0)
You must be logged in to comment.
Be the first to comment on this article!