Pre-race favourite Tima Godbless and dark horse Adekalu Fakorede raced into history books on Monday evening as the 21st National Sports Festival, Asaba 2022 fastest woman and man.
Godbless, representing Bayelsa state ran 11.32 to defeat the Delta state duo of Okwose Faith (11.50) and Praise Ofoku (11.57).
The reigning Nigeria U20 record holder never looked troubled from the first round heat to the semifinals and left no one in doubt who the undisputed queen of the 21st National Sports Festival would be.
The 18 year old who will be moving on track scholarship to the Louisiana State University in Texas, USA next year ran her fastest times on Nigerian soil from the first round heat to the final.
Okwose, 16, and a 12 seconds runner just last April defeated her more accomplished compatriot, Ofoku in the battle for the silver, running thrice inside 12 seconds at the Festival.
In the men’s race, defending champion Enoch Adegoke failed to make history as he could not become the first man in almost two decades to successfully defend a National Sports Festival 100m title as he finished seventh in a race Rivers state’s Fakorede needed to run a new personal best to win.
The 19 year old Fakorede ran a hundreth of a second faster than the 10.26 personal best he ran in June 2021 to win the race ahead of Oyo state’s Sunday Olabode Akintan who ran 10.32 to win silver with Nicholas Mabilo third (10.34).
