The 2024 Athletics Federation of Nigeria National Trials ended with exciting upsets in both the men’s and women’s 400m finals. Dubem Amene and Esther Joseph reeled off impressive times to outclass the competition ahead of favourites and emerge champions.
In the women’s final, Esther Joseph, the African Games silver medalist, won her first national title with a time of 51.70s. She held off Patience Okon-George (51.76s) and Imaobong Nse-Uko (52.04s), who finished second and third, respectively. Joseph’s strong finish on the outside lane secured her victory.
The men’s final saw Dubem Amene, a University of Michigan athlete, claim his first national title with a time of 45.44s. He beat Emmanuel Ojeli (45.69s) and his brother Dubem Nwachukwu (45.70s), who finished second and third.
Amene’s late surge in the home straight earned him the men’s 400-metre crown, denying Chidi Okezie a repeat title.
Amene was nowhere in the race before they came into the home straight, but the University of Michigan athlete picked up the pace and accelerated through the middle to take the men’s 400-metre crown from Chidi Okezie, who was also in the final.
Okezie, who had qualified for the Olympics returned home to defend his title which he won last year but was denied by Amene.
Second-place Ojeli, who won the title in 2019 was the second-fastest qualifier and also ran the second-fastest 400m in history during the final.
Other standout performances included Sunday Israel Okon’s upset in the men’s 200m final, where he took top with a new personal best of 20.80s, and Precious Nzeakor in the women’s 200 metre at a personal best of 23.14s.
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Sunday Israel Okon pulled an upset in the men’s final, storming to a new personal best of 20.80s to win.
He defeated Alaba Akintola, who was second in 20.81s, while Consider Ekanem followed in 20.88s.
This wraps up the National Trials on a high note, packed with new champions and record-breaking performances.
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