Eyakpobeyan and Israel complete sprints double as more rising stars emerge at National U18/U20 trials

Several rising stars were discovered at the just concluded National U18 and U20 trials in Kaduna, having Justina Eyakpobeyan and Sunday Israel top the list with fantastic times that won them the 100m and 200m.

The two-day trials were used to select the country's representatives at the African U18 and U20 Championships in Zambia this month and brought into the limelight athletes that can dominate the continent at their age group level.

On Day 1, Eyakpobeyan sped to a lifetime best of 11.35s to win the U18 100m final, far ahead of Faith Okwose in 11.64s and Stella Oyebode in 11.79s.

She then made it a sprint double on Day 2 with another blazing Personal Best (PB) of 23.58s. Okwose was second again in 23.89s, and Aminat Adekanbi third in 24.45s.

Eyakpobeyan's talent and times are highly commendable for her age and will surely be a standout athlete at the African Championships in Zambia.

Consequently, in the U20 category, Grace Sule won in 23.63s, as Adetutu Aladeloye was second in 23.88s, and Aminat Adekanbi third in 24.71s.

The boy's U18 100m and 200m category pushed into the limelight, Sunday Israel. The Delta State athlete was meters above his peers, racing to a PB of 10.48s (1.4) to win the boy's U18 100m final on Day 1 of the trials.

On Day 2, Israel ran a blistering PB of 21.01s to win the 200m final. He is the third fastest time by a Nigerian sprinter this season both indoors and outdoors. This is a massive talent right here!

One of the standout athletes of the trials was Blessing Akintoyin, racing to an exceptional lifetime best of 53.76s to win the 400m U20 final.

She finished ahead of Joy Osareti from Ondo State, and Joy Joseph from Oyo State.

Likewise in the U18 final, Chioma Nwachukwu ran the fastest race of her life clocking a PB of 54.47s, ahead of Favour Onyah and Odot Effiong.

Samuel Ogazi's impressive time of 47.28s was enough to win the boy's 400m U20 final, with Bamidele Ajayi finishing second and Kehinde Ajayi third.

In the final B, Olanrewaju Olawole clocked 47.80s to win the event, while Badmus Gafar and Ekpe Maduabuchi were second and third respectively.

Yetunde Salibu ran a brilliant PB time of 2:08.88s to win the U20 800m final.

Her time was even faster than the senior category where Comfort James ran 2:09.52, ahead of Verity Umoru in 2:15.62.

Victoria Kparika won the girl's Javelin throw with a distance of 41.75m, while Temitope Ademola and Salamatu Mohammad finished second and third respectively with 39.84m and 38.31m.

In all, the just concluded National U18 and U20 trials in Kaduna was a huge success in terms of discovering new talents that will don Nigerian colours at international championships years from now.