Delta state reigns supreme on Day 1 of Athletics

Team Delta asserted superiority on the opening day of Athletics event at the Niger Delta Sports Festival (NDSF) holding in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state with a national athletics star Favour Ashe making good his promise of becoming the fastest man in the Niger Delta region.

Ashe dusted a competitive field in the 100m final to win the gold medal and thus completed a Delta clean sweep in the 100m races after Jennifer Chukwuka also claimed gold in the women’s 100m final moments earlier.

A Team Nigeria participant at the last Olympics in Paris, Ashe did not have to reach second gear before coasting home in a time of 10.16 seconds, leaving Bayelsa state duo of Lucky Daje (10.45s) and Augustine Ezuruike (10.48s) to claim silver and bronze respectively.

A delirious Ashe could not contain his joy at his victory when he spoke to NDSF Media after his race.

“This is my first race of the season since August. These past seven months have been very difficult for me mentally but I still try my best to go back to training, stay focused because I want to run fast.

“I gave myself a limit of 10.1 or 10.2 being my first race so I’m fine that I was within the mark. I want to thank Niger Delta Development Commission and all the sponsors for putting together this competition,” said Ashe.

In the women’s 100m final, Chukwuka returned a time of 11.41secs to become the maiden winner in the race while Bayelsa’s Sophia Efetobore finished second at 11.48 seconds and Delta’s Kate Odumoso third at a time of 11.55 seconds.

The sprint victories added to the early successes recorded by Team Delta in the Men’s Triple Jump and Women’s Shot Put events. National champion Ine Emmanuel comfortably won the Men’s Triple Jump while Temitope Ademola won the women’s Shot Put event.

Athletics event will continue at the Festival all through till Monday, April 7.