By Uzor Odigbo
There are strong indications on the appearance of elite AthIetes in the 4th edition of Princess Mabel Madojiemu U-15 Championships billed for April 25, 2024 in Benin City.
According to director of the competition Mutiu Oluwa, the elites runners for the first time would be drawn from U-17 and U-18 that had previously participated in the U-15 competition.
He reiterated that these elite athIetes had to be incorporated into the competition to provide them with enough competitions to keep them busy.
The AthIetes will compete in 100/200m, long jump along with their U-15 counterparts.
Oluwa also stated that the waivers didn’t change the name of the competition, adding that it would only make competitions more interesting and competitive.
More schools from neighbouring states and Local government areas are getting registered for the 2-day AthIetics Championships to make it a mini-Zonal event.
The initiator and sponsor of the U-15 boys and girls championships Princess Mabel Madojiemu said the grassroots AthIetics championship has a special place in her heart such that nothing will stop her from showing love and care for up and coming talents
The Board member of Edo State Sports Commission said, “This is my dream, I was once like these Youth, searching for competitions, If help had not come my way, probably, the would would not have heard my name today, Olympics, Africa Games and Commonwealth Games would have eluded me. Therefore, I appeal to Nigerians to also come forward to assist in sponsoring these talented kids”
The Olympian and former quarter-miler assures that the 4th edition would mark an improvement to the previous editions in many ways.