Eze, Godwin, Ogundiran, win big on penultimate day of MTN CHAMPS Grand Finale in Calabar

When it mattered the most, Ufuoma Merit showed up! The athlete from Delta Secondary School had in fact, never broken 13s over 100m, but when it really counted, she powered to a new Personal Best (PB) of 12.92s (-1.4) to win the Cadet (U14) Girls’ final on Day 3 of the Grand Final of MTN CHAMPS Season 2 holding at the U.J Esuene Stadium in Calabar.

She defeated a quality field, one filled with former sub-13 runners, with Team MVP’s Ejiro Peter placing 2nd in 12.98s, while Ella Udumubrai finished 3rd in 13.16s.

Destiny Reuben ran away with the win in the Cadet (U14) Boys’ 100m final, clocking a time of 12.41s (-1.9), just 0.01s off his best from the semifinals. Darius Odebiyi finished 2nd in 12.94s, while David Umoh placed 3rd in 13.06s.

In the Youth Girls’ category, Adaeze Eze made an impressive recovery and held her ground to lay claim to the GOLD medal in 12.64s (-1.8), her second of the competition after she had won the Long Jump earlier in the day with a Personal Best (PB) of 5.64m.

Behind her, Success Okoro got the Silver in 12.73s from Perezide Sigah who clocked 12.76s for Bronze.

Meanwhile, Expensive Gaius proved to be superior to the rest of the field, winning the Boys’ equivalent in 11.58s (-1.4) from Kehinde Ojo who claimed Silver in 11.88s, and Progress Idoghor for Bronze.

Faith Osamuyi turned the tables on Rosemary Edet in the Junior Girls’ 100m final, powering away to win in 12.29s (-1.8). At their last matchup in the Season 1 Grand Finale, Edet had won, but now had to settle for 3^rd in 12.56s, while Miracle Ezechukwu got the Silver in 12.43s.

The Junior men’s race saw Tejiri Godwin smash the MTN CHAMPS Record, powering home in a brilliant 10.61s (-1.6)! He broke the previous record set by Caleb John who he beat in the final, with the latter settling for 2^nd in 10.77s. Sasere Taiwo made it a 1-2-3 finish for Team MVP as he was 3^rd in 10.95s.

Blessing Ogundiran made a good rebound in the Senior women’s 100m final, making up some deficit to beat Precious Nzeakor just on the line in 11.55s (-1.0) to the latter’s 11.58s. Long Jumper Prestina Ochonogor was 3^rd in 11.82s.

Red-hot favourite Olaolu Jason Olatunde made light work of the men’s 100m race, clocking 10.61s (-1.5) to win on the back of his PB of 10.37s in the heats. Hope Okoro was 2^nd in 10.73s, while Glory Olokpa finished 3^rd in 10.84s.

Team MVP athletes Gyang David and Dagyang Sunday, dominated the Junior men’s 1500m. They both paced each other as the rest of the field couldn’t keep up with them.

By the time they hit the final 200m mark, Gyang unleashed a full-blown sprint to strike GOLD in 4:13.58 ahead of Dagyang in 4:15.52. Opeyemi Awoyeye was 3rd in 4:25.69.

Mercy Audu won her second GOLD medal of MTN CHAMPS Calabar, clocking a time of 5:01.73 to take the Junior women’s 1500m title. She had won the 800m in dominating fashion, clearing the field by 10s the previous day. There was no difference this time as she won by at least 100m.

On the Junior men’s side of the 400m Hurdles, Oseiwe Salami of Team MVP executed a well put together race, clocking a time of 53.83s to win and leading a 1-2 finish with Christian Dickson who posted 55.43s; Uchechukwu Felix Obi was 3^rd in 58.57s.

The Senior men’s race went to Emmanuel Salubi in 53.80s.

Gafar Audu (Team MVP) ran an astonishing race, attacking early from lane 1 and then gliding to a big win in 48.47s’in the 400m. Audu looked like an overwhelming favourite and could faster in the final tomorrow.

In the same manner, Chioma Nwachukwu dug really deep in the first heat of the Junior (U20) women’s 400m, winning in 53.84s!

She finished well clear of Comfort Sule of Team MVP A who was inspired to yet an equal PB of 55.68s, edging Uduak Udosoh who clocked 55.72s. Other heat winners were Miracle Sonny (55.79s), Divine Eke (55.80s) and Chiamaka Chukw-umeh (55.26s).

Michael Aniche ran the fastest time in the Youth Boys 400m, clocking a time of 52.04s. The Silver medallist from the Season 1 Grand Finale, looked to have the biggest frame right now in Calabar and will hope he can turn his Silver to GOLD. He won’t have it easy, as there are athletes such as Obi Emmanuel who ran 52.10s and Moses Gift in 52.94s, winners of their respective heats.

Success Okoro of Team MVP dominated the second 400m heat of the Youth Girls (U17) category, pulling away with every step to emerge winner in 57.61s, the fastest time across all heats. She will have athletes such as Believe Oghenewevgba (59.36s), Angel Eteng (60.39s) and Precious Awak (60.58s), all winners of their races, to contend with.

Best Okopor emerged fastest in the Cadet Boys’ category of the 400m winning his race in a new Personal Best (PB) of 57.28s.

Praise Ugwushita was the fastest across 7 heats of the Girls’ race, clocking a time of 62.50s to lead from Hephzibah Gabriel-Okon in 63.04s.