The national trials for 2023 will take place in the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium in Benin City for the second time in a row.
Last year trials was a class act littered with outstanding performances from various disciplines which saw Favour Ashe duck under 10s for the first time in his career becoming the fastest man in the nation. Also Chukwuebuka Enekwechi set a national record in the process in front of home crowd.
This year’s national trials promises so much as the season has been lit with a lot of mouth-watering performances.
A major performance to behold will be the women’s 100m hurdles where the reigning World Champion and World Record holder, Tobi Amusan will be competing.
Another anticipated events would be the men’s 100m as three collegiate athletes has gone under 10s this year with Godson Brume setting the national lead at a time of 9.90s in Austin Texas where he finished second in the men’s 100m finals at the NCAA championships. Udodi Onwuzurike ran a stunning 9.92s en-route to the Championships and Favor Ashe has lowered his PR from last year to a 9.96s. All three are major contenders for the title. Medal host potentials includes Usheoritse Itsekeri,Seye Ogunlewe and Alaba Akintola who’s run 10.02s,10.04s and Alaba Akintola 10.05s. The home based athletes would surely have to dig deeper as the fastest time ran this season came from Sunday Akintan who ran 10.24s, reigning festival champion has ran 10.29s while Ekanem Consider would be in the mix with his 10.30s. Surely,the men’s 100m would be one to watch out for.
In the women’s equivalent, the fastest time across the nation is from Rosemary Chukwuma with her 11.01s at the NCAA championships. The home based athletes has been trying to meet up the pace as brilliant performances has been recorded from the youngsters in the nation. One of such, Okwose Faith who ran a brilliant 11.35s at the Afn Golden League in Uyo.
Other major contenders includes Tiana Eyakpobeyan, Ofoku Praise and Asemota Marvelous who’s been in fine form this season.
The men’s 400m is definitely one not to be missed as quite a number of athletes has turned the burners with stunning performances from the quarter-milers.
Three athletes recorded 45s with the likes of Emmanuel Ojeli who ran 45.67s, Egbuchilem Raphael 45.79s, and Samuel Ogazi who ran 45.91s at the Afn Golden League in Abuja. However the fastest times would be from Nwachukwu Dubem with his 44.81s at the NCAA championships.
Spectators are expecting the track to flame up, the clock rounding up with a 44s. Questions have been asked if we could see a 43s? It’s a tough ask but surely a 44s is within reach.
The fastest time in the women’s 400m this year is held by Imaobang Nse Uko who ran a stunning 51.69s earlier this season. Two other athletes, Ella Onojuvwevwo and veteran sprinter Patience Okon George has also ducked under 52s this season with the former running a personal best of 51.85s and the latter 51.91s. Other major contenders would include Queen Usunobun with her 52.55s, Josephine Oloye and a host of female home based athletes in the 53s.
Last year, Alaba Akintola won the men’s 200m title clocking 20.51s However, Udodi Onwuzurike has gone under 20s this season running a lifetime best of 19.79s in at the NCAA championships. He’s definitely the favourite for the title.
The women’s Long Jump would feature multiple global medalist Ese Brume who took the title last year with her mark of 6.89m. So far this season, she’s sailed to a mark of 6.81m. Her major contender would be Ruth Usoro with her national lead of 6.82m a personal best she set in the process.
The men’s Long jump event, would be another exciting event to watch out for as spectators would be hoping to see an 8m jump from Charles Godfred who’s the clear favourite. He’s being putting together a good series of jumps with his personal best of 7.86m.
Enekwechi Chukwuebuka has already booked a spot to the world championships as he’s threw to a mark of 21.69m as against the 21.80m.
Ibadin Edose would be looking to book a spot to the world championships as he’s ran an impressive 1:45.49s against the 1:44.70s which is the world championships standard.
The highest height in the nation cleared by a female this year,is from Temitope Adeshina who scaled a height of 1.94m at the Lagos series in Lagos.
Would be thrilling to witness something like that or even better at the National trials.
Could she go over the 1.97m which is the required standard for the World championships?
We’ll see.
It would definitely be thrilling to witness such a feat and have a Nigerian representative in the women’s high jump at Budapest.
