The MTN Champs Benin Athletics Classics kicked off with over 2,000 athletes participating. Notable performances included Benjamin Magaji’s personal best in the men’s 400m and Miracle Sonny’s top ranking in the junior women’s category. The event continues until March 15, featuring finals and heats across various events.
The MTN Champs Benin Athletics Classics commenced on Thursday at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium and the UNIBEN Sports Complex, featuring exemplary performances from athletes such as Benjamin Magaji, Miracle Sonny, and Adaeze Ezeh. This initial day attracted over 2,000 competitors representing various schools, teams, and states, demonstrating their preparedness for the upcoming 2025 athletics season.
Benjamin Magaji emerged as the top performer in the senior men’s 400m heats, achieving a personal best of 48.23 seconds. His strategic prowess enabled him to maintain the lead throughout the heat. Emmanuel Baraburu and Emmanuel Salubi followed closely with times of 48.27 seconds and 48.53 seconds, respectively.
In the junior women’s 400m, Miracle Sonny showcased her talent with a personal best of 54.92 seconds, securing the fastest time overall in this category. Victoria Olaniyi and Success Okoro finished with personal bests of 55.62 seconds and 55.92 seconds, ranking second and third overall.
Gafar Badmus distinguished himself in the junior men’s 400m, winning Heat 6 with a season’s best of 47.94 seconds. David Akhalu (48.22 seconds) and Eniola Shiro (48.30 seconds) were also notable performers in the category, placing second and third overall, respectively.
The youth girls’ 400m saw Elizabeth Olumide, Chizoba Onyemauwa, and Agape Elisha qualifying as the fastest athletes, while Emmanuel Chukwueweniwe, Oghenetega Abednigo, and Dominion Udoh led the youth boys’ qualifiers. In the junior women’s 100m semis, Mmesoma Ezeobi topped the rankings with a time of 11.88 seconds.
Caleb John dominated the junior men’s semis with a season-best time of 10.59 seconds, securing his place alongside competitors such as Juliand Efejuku and Abdulrahman Jimoh, both posting times of 10.71 seconds. Adaeze Ezeh won the junior women’s long jump with a leap of 6.05 meters, followed by Jennifer Osemijengie and Franca Ajagbawa.
The second day of the competition promises exciting finals for the 100m and 400m events across all age categories, in addition to the 4x100m heats, continuing until March 15th.
The opening day of the MTN Champs Benin Athletics Classics highlighted remarkable performances from numerous athletes, particularly in the 400m and long jump events. Standout competitors included Benjamin Magaji and Miracle Sonny, amongst others, who set new personal records. Anticipation builds for the forthcoming finals and heats scheduled for Day 2, showcasing the dedication and skill of these athletes as they prepare for the upcoming athletics season.
Original Source: punchng.com
