Amusan retains 100m hurdles title
After three days of competition, the 2025 national trials, organised by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) to select the nation’s team for this year’s World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, ended yesterday at the YABA College of Technology, Lagos.
Unlike in the past, when the AFN enforced a “no trial, no selection” policy, this year’s event was characterised by a low turnout of United States-based stars.
Apart from the absence of sprinter Favour Ofili, who has announced her switch of allegiance to Turkey, other top athletes like Tima Godbless and Rosemary Chukwuma also stayed away from the national trials in Lagos. Also absent at the national trials was U.S.-based 400m speed star, Ella Onojuvwevwo.
A source told The Guardian, yesterday that only long jumper, Ese Brume, who was involved in a car accident earlier this season, got in touch with the AFN to explain why she could not travel down from the United States to Lagos for the trials.
Meanwhile, 18-year-old, African Games gold medalist, Israel Okon, emerged the fastest man in Nigeria at the weekend.
The 2025 NCAA Indoor Championships bronze medalist dethroned two-time Africa U-20 Championship gold medallist Kanyinsola Ajayi, who couldn’t take part in the semifinals due to a slight knock.
Okon, popularly called ‘Alika,’ raced to the finishing line in a time of 10.04s. He was followed by Alaba Akintola (10.05s), with Nicholas Fakorede finishing third with a time of 10.07s. In fifth position was Seye Ogunlewe (10.09sec), with Olaolu Olatunde (10.15 secs), James Taiwo Emmanuel (10.16 secs), Enoch Adegoke (10.20 secs), and Igube ThankGod in fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth, respectively.
Okon said he was happy to win his second title, albeit his first in 100m, after winning the 200m at the last National Trials in Benin, Edo State.
He stated that he is ready mentally and physically to fly the Nigerian flag at the World Championship in Tokyo later in the year.
“I’m very happy right now to be the national champion. In Tokyo, anything can happen, anything is possible. Everything is possible here. I’m putting my faith in my coach, Coach Ken, I am ready to go for whatever he asks me to do ahead of the world championship,” he stated.
Also at the event, women’s 100m hurdles world record holder, Tobiloba Amusan, retained her title with a 12.54secs finish in the final race.
