Lucy Nwankwo sprinted to victory in the women’s junior 100m final, clocking a personal best (PB) of 11.99 seconds to win gold on Day 2 of the MTN Champs Season 3 Lagos Continental Relays.
The event, held across the YabaTech and UNILAG sports complexes, showcased an array of outstanding performances from Nigeria’s rising and elite athletic talents.
Junior stars shine on track
Nwankwo’s PB led a competitive field, followed closely by Mercy Ogbonna, who claimed silver with a PB of 12.16 seconds. Azeezat Muhammed-Raji secured bronze in 12.18 seconds in what was a thrilling finish in the U20 category.
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Other standout times in the women’s U20 category included Flore-Julie Krakere (11.86 seconds) and Janet Adesiyan (11.90 seconds), highlighting the depth of emerging talent in Nigerian sprinting.
Iyanuoluwa Bada sets new PB to claim senior women’s title
In the women’s senior 100m final, Team NSDC’s Iyanuoluwa Bada delivered a show-stopping performance, running a PB of 11.30 seconds to win gold. It marked her third consecutive personal best at the championship after posting 11.48 seconds in the prelims and 11.38 seconds in the semifinals.
“I’m happy to be here because there’s a competition for us to showcase ourselves outside of constant training,” Bada said after her win.
Ashe dominates men’s 100m in debut outing
All eyes were on Olympic sprinter Favour Ashe as he made his debut appearance at the MTN Champs, and he did not disappoint. Ashe powered to gold in the men’s senior 100m final with a PB of 10.28 seconds, reinforcing his reputation as Nigeria’s top sprinting force.
In 2024, Ashe became the first Nigerian man to run five sub-10s in the 100m, a testament to his growing international pedigree.
“I thank my mum, my dad, and my coaches. Being a champion means consistency, showing up, and competing to win every time,” Ashe said post-race.
Chidera Ezeakor (10.38 seconds) and Thankgod Chinemerem Igube (10.49 seconds) also posted strong times in the men’s final, both recording personal bests.
Breakout performances take centre stage at field events
In field events, Victoria Ejembi of Arena Academy secured silver in the women’s long jump, while the men’s high jump saw an unexpected breakout performance from UNILAG student Isaac Atidade, who clinched gold for Team Eagle Sight in his first-ever competition.
MTN reaffirms commitment to athletic development
Ayham Moussa, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of MTN Nigeria, reiterated the company’s dedication to developing sports in the country.
“At MTN, we are heavily invested in football and athletics because we believe in the power of sports as a catalyst for development,” Moussa said.
Launched in 2023, MTN Champs aims to discover and nurture young athletic talent across Nigeria. The programme is designed to identify future Olympians and mould them into global medal contenders and sporting legends.
Season 3 of the MTN Champs Lagos Continental Relays continues until April 12, with the grand finale set to take place at the Yaba College of Technology Sports Complex.
