Mike Edwards and Chidera Nnamani led a host of others to impressive times at the inaugural edition of the AFN/MoC Invitational which saw athletes from all over the country compete in a one day event at the Yabatech Sports Complex.
Mike Edwards returned to winning ways after a bronze medal at the National Sports Festival in Edo state with a clean jump of 2.23m, his best mark since 2017, to win the men’s high jump event – 10cm off the Olympic qualifying mark.
After securing the victory, Edwards twice attempted a new Personal Best of 2.28m, which is 1cm off Anthony Idiata’s National Record (NR), and then passed up the last attempt, ending the competition on the high.
Youngster David Aya who won the event at their last encounter in Benin, settled for 2nd place this time around with 2.10m while Cyprian Oyedele finished 3rd with 2.05m.
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In shotput, Annabel Orobosa showed that her National Sports Festival (NSF) title was no fluke, throwing a new PB of 17.07m to win the event at the AFN/MoC Invitational, improving by more than 20cm from her previous PB of 16.82m which she threw last month in Benin.
The women’s 200m saw Ese Awusa storm to a new PB of 24.32s in her fourth race of the day, making her the fastest woman across all 200m heats. Blessing Ovwighoadjebre won Heat 2 in 24.36s, which was the second fastest heat overall, while Funmilayo Adetutu was the winner in Heat 1 with 24.50s, the third fastest time overall!
In the men’s event, Chidera Nnamani could hardly contain his joy speeding to a new PB which is the first sub 47s of his career! His time was the fastest across all the 400m heats, winning Heat 5 in a new Personal Best of 46.97s, and Segun Thovoethin 2nd in 47.28s while Oluwabamidele Olanipekun placed 3rd with a time of 47.69s.
MoC’s Miracle Thompson ran her second sub 14s ever in the women’s 100m Hurdles, cleanly taking the barriers to emerge a clear winner in a time of 13.88s. Awusa finished 2nd in 14.30s, and Adaeze Nwokike came in 3rd clocking 14.40s.
Henry Okorie lived up to the favourite tag, posting the fastest time in the two finals of the men’s 400m Hurdles, winning final A in a time of 52.02s. Ezekiel Nathaniel won final B in 53.23s to post the 2nd fastest time overall, while Gbenga Bakre was 3rd overall in 53.57s.
