The cream of Nigerian athletes will Saturday, May 14, 2016, converge on the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, for the first leg of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, AFN Golden League Meet.
After setting the tone with the All-Comers event in Lagos last week, the stage is now set for stiffer contests at the National Stadium in Abuja.
Agnes Osazuwaa, Divine Oduduru, Blessing Ibrahim and Adams Samuel among others, who won their respective events in Lagos, will hope they can build on their good start in Abuja on Saturday even as other athletes are hoping to displace the early starters.
Olukayode Thomas, Head of the Media for the AFN said the country’s top athlete on Saturday will be racing for mouth-watering cash prizes on offer and more importantly for slots in the contingent to next month’s African Athletics Championships in Durban and the Rio Olympics.
“Yes, the top athletes in the country will all be in Abuja on Saturday to compete in the first leg of the Golden League Meet, aside the cash prizes for deserving athletes, the AFN will be using the Golden League to pick the team for African Championships.” He said.
The 2016 African Championships in Athletics which is the 20th edition will take place from 22 to 26 June 2016 in Durban (South Africa).
Nigeria finished as runners-up behind South Africa at the last edition in Morocco and would be hoping to put up a more formidable challenge this term.
Meanwhile, some of the events listed for Saturday’s Golden League Meet include the men and women’s 100m, 200m, 400m, 4x100m, 1500m, 100m/110m Hurdles and 400m Hurdles.
The field events include the men and women’s Triple Jump, Long Jump, Javelin throw, Shot put and a host of others.