Sports
Anambra Wins South-East Athletics Championships
Team Anambra have emerged winners of the two-day Onyedum U-18 Athletics Championships for South-East states at the Rojenny Sports Complex, Oba, Idemili South.
According to the final result sheet, Anambra won 12 gold, nine silver and 14 bronze medals out of the 19 events featured at the championships to become champions.
Enugu is second on the log with three gold and three silver, while Abia occupied the third position with two gold, three silver and three bronze
Imo finished fourth with two gold, two silver and two bronze, while Ebonyi was last with just two silver medals.
The hosts, Anambra won all the medals in the female Short Put through Chinenye Okonkwo, Chinaza Nwosu and Priscilla Oforkaife who threw 12.35m, 8.7m and 7.885m, respectively.
In Triple Jump, Nnenna Chinonye from Imo, leapt 9. 31m to win gold ahead of Justina Onoja and Miracle Onuma both from Anambra who leapt 9.1m and 8.96m respectively.
Anambra swept the available medals in Discuss male and female, 1,500m race male and female, but did not have presence in 100m female which was won by Enugu through Tobechukwu Ugbor in 12.1 secs.
The competition featured 100m and all jumps and throws excluding pole vault and hammer as well as sprint and races between 100m and 1,500 metres.
Veteran national athletics coach, Tobias Igwe, told newsmen that the results were quite inspiring for the athletics family.
The coach said the essence of the competition was not just to win but to engender positive competition among budding athletes who had become competition rusty.
Igwe lauded the sponsor, Patrick-Eestate Onyedum and the Proprietor of Rojenny Stadium, Oba, for providing the facility that was not readily available in some states.
Also, a former Commissioner for Sports in Edo, Brown Ebewele, deplored the tartan tracks at the stadium which, he said, had collapsed just after two years of installation.
Ebele expressed satisfaction with the quality of competition and urged state governments to partner with the private sector that were interested in advancing sports since they could not do it alone.
Congratulating his athletes, the coach of Anambra, Jonny Igboka, said they could have done better if the environment was better.
Igboka, who is the Director of All Sports Foundation Nimo (ASFAN), said the secret of the success was his movement across the schools in the state to scout for potential athletes.
The competition ended on Saturday.
The Bayelsa State government, yesterday, announced that the marathon will be held on Saturday, April 4, 2026.
The inaugural race is owned by the Bayelsa State Government and will be organised by Nilayo Sports Management Limited, a sports management company.
Under the theme “The Reveal,” the race represents a bold unveiling of Bayelsa’s immense human and cultural potential to the international community, inviting the world to witness the resilience, grit, and talent rooted in the heart of the Niger Delta.
According to the organisers, the race will be flagged off at 9:30 a.m., at the Opolo Roundabout, guiding participants through a carefully designed 10-kilometre route that highlights the scenic beauty and vibrant atmosphere of Yenagoa.
The course will culminate at Peace Park Square, where athletes will cross the finish line into a grand celebration of endurance, unity, and community spirit.
To elevate the experience for runners and spectators alike, the finish venue will host a high-energy post-race concert featuring performances from top A-list artistes, blending sport and entertainment in a festival-style atmosphere.
The organisers directed all registered participants to collect their race bibs and kits at the designated Peace Park Square between March 30 and April 3, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily.
The race, according to them, is currently on track for World Athletics accreditation, underscoring the commitment of both the Bayelsa State Government and Nilayo Sports Management Limited to delivering an event that meets the highest global standards.
The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, on Friday continued the Commission’s nationwide appreciation tour with a visit to Abeokuta, where outstanding junior athlete, Majekodunmi Afusat Bisola, was presented with a cheque of N3 million.
The presentation forms part of the NSC’s initiative to recognise and reward exceptional junior athletes who distinguished themselves in 2025 and contributed significantly to Nigeria’s medal haul.
Majekodunmi delivered an impressive run of performances on the track. At the last edition of the National Sports Festival, she stormed to gold in the 400m and the 4x400m relay. She replicated the double triumph at the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Junior Championship, in Abeokuta, before emerging as one of the standout stars at the African Youth Games in Luanda, Angola.
Speaking during the presentation, Olopade explained that the Commission deemed it necessary to extend financial appreciation to grassroots athletes after elite performers had earlier received grants running into thousands of dollars.
“A few weeks ago, after paying grants to our elite athletes, we agreed tthere was a need to also appreciate these young, budding talents who made Nigeria proud last year,” he said.
He disclosed that of the 376 medals recorded by Nigerian athletes in 2025, more than 200 were won by grassroots talents, underscoring the importance of sustained investment in youth development.
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