By Ado Salisu
Favour Oghene Tejiri Ashe delivered a statement performance at the Commonwealth Games Trials, storming to victory in the men’s 100 metres with a personal best and world-class time of 9.93 seconds.
The Delta State sprinter produced an explosive run from the blocks and maintained his dominance through the finish line to become the only athlete on the field to break the 10-second barrier. The impressive mark underlined his credentials as one of Nigeria’s leading sprint prospects ahead of major international competitions.
Fakorede Nicholas Adekalu of Mississippi State University also dipped under his previous best, clocking 9.98 seconds to finish second and register a personal best performance. Chidera Ezeakor of Team Customs continued his remarkable rise in the sprint ranks, placing third in another personal best time of 10.03 seconds.
Teenage sensation Tejiri Godwin, representing Bayelsa State, showed immense promise by finishing fourth in a personal best 10.20 seconds, while former national champion Enoch Adegoke crossed the line in fifth position with a time of 10.27 seconds.
Making of Champions athlete Gafaru Audu finished sixth in a season’s best 10.42 seconds, ahead of Osama Chibueze of Dynamic, who placed seventh in 10.46 seconds.
It’s noteworthy to state that three home-based athletes met the benchmark for the Ben Aghazu Excellence in Athletics Prize. They’re Favour Ashe, Chidera Ezeakor and Tejiri Godwin.
The race produced a series of outstanding performances, with four athletes recording personal bests, highlighting the depth and growing competitiveness of Nigeria’s sprinting.
Ashe’s exceptional 9.93-second run was the standout performance of the day, reinforcing expectations that Nigeria’s men’s sprint programme is poised for further success on the international stage.
