Adegoke and Ezeakor Tie as Omokwe Wins Women's 100m Title at MTN CHAMPS Grand Final
The second day of the MTN CHAMPS Grand Final in Ibadan delivered an electrifying spectacle, with the 100m finals across junior and senior categories taking center stage and producing a flurry of Personal Bests (PBs) and Season's Bests (SBs). The event, held at the Lekan Salami Stadium, showcased Nigeria's rising athletic talent in a series of closely contested races.
Senior Men's 100m: A Thrilling Dead Heat
In the Senior Men's event, pre-race attention was focused on Tejiri Godwin, who had set a blistering pace with a PB of 10.29 seconds in the heats. He was closely followed by Chidera Ezeakor at 10.31 seconds and Enoch Adegoke at 10.34 seconds, setting up a highly anticipated final showdown. The race did not disappoint, as Ezeakor and Adegoke delivered one of the defining moments of the competition by crossing the finish line in identical times of 10.15 seconds, resulting in a thrilling dead heat to share the title. This performance marked a new personal best for Ezeakor, highlighting his rapid improvement. Osama Chibueze followed in third place, clocking a lifetime best of 10.35 seconds, adding to the day's impressive achievements.
Senior Women's 100m: Omokwe Steals the Spotlight
In the Senior Women's 100m, Maria Thompson Omokwe stole the spotlight with a stunning victory, surging to the finish in a PB of 11.26 seconds. Her time matches the fastest recorded on Nigerian soil in 2026, previously set by Miracle Ezechukwu, underscoring her elite status. Omokwe demonstrated remarkable consistency, improving from 11.35 seconds in the semi-finals before producing her best run when it mattered most. Janet Sunday finished second with a PB of 11.66 seconds, while Omoyemi Lydia Ajayi-Bibilomo also clocked a lifetime best of 11.69 seconds to secure third place, making it a podium of personal achievements.
Junior Races: Electrifying Performances
The Junior races were equally electrifying, with Ejiro Peter claiming the Junior Women's title in 11.39 seconds, having earlier set a PB of 11.29 seconds in the semi-finals. She was followed by Chigozie Rosemary Nwankwo in 11.48 seconds and Team MTN's Lucy Nwankwo in 11.57 seconds. In the Junior Men's 100m, Abdulrahman Adewale Jimoh powered to victory with a PB of 10.57 seconds. Liberty Okon also impressed with a PB of 10.62 seconds to finish second, while Team MTN's Alvin Onyeama secured third place in 10.66 seconds, showcasing the depth of young talent in Nigerian athletics.
400m Hurdles: Additional Highlights
Beyond the 100m events, the 400m hurdles provided additional excitement. In the Senior Men's category, Ndiponke Okure, Sodiq Adebisi, and Olorunwa Olowu finished as the top three, demonstrating skill and endurance. Meanwhile, in the Junior race, Oseiwe Salami dominated by clocking a lifetime best of 51.60 seconds to claim gold ahead of Ibrahim Muhammed and Solomon Eloghosa Okundaye, who took silver and bronze respectively. These performances added to the overall success of the MTN CHAMPS Grand Final, reinforcing its role as a key platform for athletic development in Nigeria.
