ZARIA ATHLETICS GRAND PRIX ENDS .... Established & Upcoming Athletes Prepare For World Athletics Championship, Budapest

"Our Joy is to return Nigeria to it place and if possible dominate Athletics in the world." Adeleye

The Zaria Grand Prix held at the Ahmadu Bello University Sports Complex ended over the weekend, witnessing great performances from already established athletes and the upcoming ones.

The games, which had only ten (10) events, saw athletes putting in their best as they saw the just concluded Aria Grand Prix as a preparatory ground for the National trails in Benin, scheduled to commence on the 5th of July towards the World Athletics championship that will expectedly, hold in Budapest next month.

During the games, athletes that emerged victorious include Igube ThankGod 100m men with a time of  10.09.

In second place was Ezeakor Chidera, 10.10 and Eze Collins came third with a time of 10.30.

Others are: 

100m Women: First place, Hajara Haruna first 11.60

In Second position was Magaret Bukola second 11.70 while Peace Lekwot with a time of 12.40 came third.

Other track events are;

400m men:

1st Position: Ogazi Samuel (46.20)

2nd Position: Victory Achakpoekri (47.20)

3rd Alphonsus Akwuaja (47.21)

1500m Women

1st Position: Comfort James (4min. 50.5) 

2nd Verity Umaru (4min.52.8) 

3rd Mercy Audu (5min.08.3)

800m men 

1st Salisu Habeeb (1min.52sec.6),

2nd Surajo Habeeb (1min 54sec.5), 

3rd Isaac Chukwuike (1min.55sec.7)

400m Women

1st Comfort James (55.3)

2nd Happy Rasheed (56.4)

3rd Temitope Olusesan(56.6)

Longjump Women

1st Ademola temitope (5.46 metres) 

2nd Peace Lekwot (5.27) 

3rd Penie Daniel (4.93)

Discuss Women 

1st Esther Osisike (47.82)

2nd Amazing Grace Asipitan (37.36)

3rd Patricia Uzuegbu (34.47)

Shotput Men

1st Okafor Onyinyechi (14.18m) 

2nd Afuku Nyerhowe (12.48)

3rd Henry Friday (11.83)

Ogazi Samuel, the 400 metres National champion, who was discovered in the first edition of the Zaria Prix, expressed his gratitude to the organizers of the Prix for bringing it down to Zaria. 

He disclosed that he might have been doing something else if not for the opportunity that he got at the games.

"I am calling on other well meaning individuals and companies to emulate the organizers of the Zaria Grand Prix around the federation." He stated.

The Meet Director, Mr Sunday Adeleye a former international and Technical Director of the AFN, said as organizers, they are happy seeing young men and women from the Grand Prix growing into a strong force. 

"Our Joy is to return Nigeria to it place and if possible dominate Athletics in the world." Adeleye said.

Godfrey Apkodu, a former NATO President said he is happy to be associated with the Zaria Grand Prix, saying; "It has continued to get better with every passing edition." 

"This particular one will psyche the athletes up well for the National trails in Benin on the 5th of July. It actually came at the right time." 

A big stakeholder in the athletics family, Lekan Seotan gave applause to the athletes for the fighting spirit they showed. He also applauded the Zaria Grand Prix organisers for their consistency.