“The pressure was much, but we have been able to cross the opening day hurdle,
the number of talents we are seeing here is really exciting, we are looking to a keenly contested final,” said coach Mutiu Oluwa.
By Uzor Odigbo
The Princess Mabel Madojiemu Athletics Championships began with over 500 athletes participating in the meet at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City.
Under-15 athletes drawn from 45 schools in Edo State registered for the two-day event.
The day started with the screening of athletes to ensure the rules are strictly adhered to. But organizing officials had a hard time keeping away the overaged athletes.
“The pressure was much, but we have been able to cross the opening day hurdle. The number of talents we are seeing here is really exciting, we are looking to a keenly contested final,” said coach Mutiu Oluwa.
The heats followed and the young runners gave a hint of what to expect in the finals coming up Friday.
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The events being contested include 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, long jump, triple jump and relays.
The Princess Mabel Madojiemu Athletics Championships made its debut in 2019, but due to the Covid’19 worldwide epidemic, the second edition was kept on hold.
Over 500 School kids are participating in the 2-day athletics event which would draw the attention of Athletics admires outside Edo State to the Stadium.
Winner in 13 events on display namely 100/200m, 400m, 4×100/4×400m etc. would go home with prizes with Cash prizes, big exercise notebooks, T-shirts and special prices for the best athletes of the Championship boys and girls.