Team Nigeria athletes to end CAA Region ll Champs with highest medal haul, trophy parade in Ghana
By Uzor Odigbo
As the 2nd edition of the Region II Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Championships reaches its climax, Team Nigeria is poised to emerge victorious, with the finals of 15 events scheduled to take place today (Tuesday) Day 2 in Accra, Ghana.
The morning session will feature four finals: men’s and women’s 400m hurdles, women’s discus, and men’s triple jump final.
The evening session, starting at 15:10 pm Ghanaian time, will witness the conclusion of the men’s shot put final. Moreover, four women’s events – 1,500m, javelin, long jump, and 200m – will be decided.
The men’s finals in high jump, 200m, 800m, 5000m, and javelin will commence at 4 pm GMT.
The mixed 4x400m relay will conclude the two-day competition
Nigeria had a remarkable Day 1, garnering over 7 medals. Gafari Badmus was crowned the CAA Region II Men’s 400m Champion.
Gafari Badmus, the reigning Nigerian 400m champion, achieved a remarkable victory in the men’s 400m final at the CAA Region II Senior Athletics Championship in Ghana, with a Personal Best (PB) of 45.53s. Ezekiel Asuquo secured the silver medal in 46.38s, while Mordecai Acheampong of Ghana claimed bronze in 46.63s.
Olaolu Olatunde emerged as the CAA Region II women’s 100m Champion. Olaolu Olatunde secured a gold medal in the men’s 100m final at the CAA Region II Senior Athletics Championship in Ghana, with a time of 10.60s (-2.1). Ghana’s Kevin Painstsil Arthur secured the silver medal in 10.63s, while Ivory Coast’s Kone Abdulrasak secured bronze with 10.71s. James Emmanuel of Nigeria finished in 4th position
Chioma Nweke shone brightly as she was crowned the CAA Region II Women’s 100m Champion. As the reigning Nigerian national champion, Chioma Nweke expanded her accolades, achieving victory in the women’s 100m final at the CAA Championships with a time of 11.62s (-0.5). Olayinka Olajide of Nigeria secured the silver medal with 11.72s, while Sey Isatou of Gambia claimed bronze in 12.00s. Team Nigeria experienced a double triumph in the 4x100m Relays at the CAA Region II Senior Athletics Championship, securing double titles in the men’s and women’s 4x100m relays. The Nigerian quartet dominated the men’s race, finishing in 39.74s, narrowly surpassing hosts Ghana who secured silver in 39.75s, while Burkina Faso claimed bronze in 40.95s.
In the women’s race, Nigeria’s speed queens blazed to gold in 44.92s, finishing ahead of Burkina Faso in 46.56s, with Ghana taking bronze.
A clean sweep for Nigeria in the sprint relays!
Meanwhile, hurdler Nnamdi Onwaeze missed out on the 110m gold at the CAA region 2 Championships and missing the 13.00s mark was more of a disappointment for him.
Onwaeze who won the national trials earlier in August faced a formidable foe in Serges Taha of Cote d’Ivoire at the University of Ghana sports complex.
Taha who is the Ivorian record holder at 13.33secs took the gold at 13.99secs. Onwaeze picked the second spot with 14.33, slower than the 14.13, he did at national trials.
“For me it was a disappointing race…I didn’t have enough warm up and it was my first time scaling over a hurdle after the national trials. Things could have been better with lots more conditioning.
“But I will keep working to improve on my race and timing, next year hopefully, I will be where I want to be.”
Onwaeze’s silver was the only medal won in the opening day.
Nigeria came tops in the same championship two years ago at the same venue, in Accra Ghana.
