ZAKARI ISAH, KADUNA
The Zaria Grand Prix took place place at Ahmadu Bello University sport complex over the weekend with great performances from already established athletes and upcoming ones.
The event which had only 10 events saw the athletes, putting in there best, serving as a preparatory for the National trials in Benin, Edo State, on Wednesday, 5th of July, towards the World Athletics Championship in Budapest, Hungary next month.
In the 100m men, Igube ThankGod came first with 10:09sec Ezeakor Chidera second with the time 10:10secs while, Eze Collins was third on 10:30secs.
In the Women 100m event- Hajara Haruna came first with 11.60secs, Magret Bukola finished second on 11:70secs and in a distance third was Peace Lekwot breasting the tape at 12.40secs.
400m men Category
1. Ogazi Samuel -46.20sec,
2. Victory Achakpoekri -47.20sec
3rd Alphonsus Akwuaja -47.21sec.
400m Women
1st. Comfort James -55:30sec 2nd. Happy Rasheed -56:40sec
3rd. Temitope olusesan-56:6sec
1500m Women
1st. Comfort James -4min:50sec, 2nd Verity Umaru -4min:53sec, 3rd Mercy Audu -5min:08sec.
800m Men
1st. Salisu Habeeb -1min.52sec,
2nd. Surajo Habeeb -1min 54sec, 3rd. Isaac Chukwuike -1min.55sec.
Long Jump Women-
1st. Ademola Temitope -5.46m
2nd. Peace Lekwot -5.27m
3rd. Penie Daniel 4.93m
Discus Women
1st. Esther osisike -47.82m
2nd. Grace Asipitan -37.36m
3rd. Patricia Uzuegbu -34.47m
Shot Put Men-
1st. Okafor Onyinyechi -14.18m
2nd. Afuku nyerhowe -12.48m
3rd. Henry Friday -11.83m
Ogazi Samuel, the 400 metres National champion, who was discovered in the first edition of the Zaria Prix said he his greatfull to the organizers of the Prix for bringing it down to Zaria, adding that "he might have been doing something else if not for the opportunity i got here, i am calling on other well meaning individuals and companies to emulate the organizers of the Zaria Grand Prix.
On his part, the Meet Director, Mr Sunday Adeleye a former International and Technical Director of the AFN, expressed satisfaction with the level of progress some of the meet athletes have been making, growing into a strong force, "our joy is to return Nigeria to its place and if possible dominate Athletics in the world".
A former NATO President, Godfrey Apkodu, said he is happy to be associated with the Zaria Grand Prix, "it has continue to get better with every passing edition, and this particular one will psyche the athletes well, for the National trials in Benin on the 5th of July, it actually came at the right time.
A big stakeholder in the Athletics family, Lekan Soetan gave applause to the athletes for the fighting spirit they showed, he also applauded the Zaria Grand Prix organizers for consistency.
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