20km Walk: Rivers Athlete Breaks 10-yr Old Record

Rivers athlete, Lawal Oluwaseyi has set a new National Sports Festival record, as he finished 1.45.26 sec to  clinch the gold medal in the male category of 20km walking event, at the on going National Sports Festival, at Adokiye Amiesimaka sports complex in the Greater Port Harcourt City.

Oluwaseyi broke the record set by Oluwale Odunaga from Lagos State with his time of 1.47.25. sec at the National Sports Festival held in Bauchi, in 1991.

In the same vein, Florence Idahosa, from Edo State in the female category of the same event also set a new sports festival record as she finished at the time 1.58.41 sec, broke the record set by Queenly Asedo also from Edo State with her time  1.59.38.25 sec, at Kaduna in 2009.

In a telephone interview with the Rivers State Director of Sports Hon Daobu Harvest Harry, he said that he was not surprised that Oluwaseyi set a national record, because he snatched the first position at the recently concluded mobile track/field competition.

“I know that he will set a new record, his current performance  in sports is so impressive, besides, he has been the number one man on that event”, Harry said.

The director of sport expressed joy over the new record set by a Rivers athlete, saying that it is an indication the state would win the competition.

Tonye Orabere