Eighteen-year-Old Ronke Ashabi is top among 55 junior athletes called up by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) invited to camp for the final leg of preparations for the Africa U-18 and U-20 championships scheduled to hold later this month in Ndola, Zambia.
The AFN said majority of the athletes were picked after its U-18 and U-20 trials at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna, late last month. Ashabi, who set a new Nigeria 3000m U-20 record at the trials, first set the record barely a year ago at the International School Sports Federation (ISF) held in Caen, France.
Also on the AFN camp list are Nigeria’s reigning 100m U-20 record holder, Tima Godbless, Sule Rejoice Adijatu, Okpah Elo Blessing, Aladeloye Adetutu Funmilayo, Immaculate Daniel, Rosemary Etim and Grace Sule. Others are Joseph Joy Ayomide, Kudoro Taiwo, Mustapha Ruqqayah Kemi, Akintoye Blessing Joy, Usenbor Osaretin Joy, Bright Ada Princess and Oshiokpu Grace.
In the U-20 men’s list are Musa Kola Nurain, Ajayi Konyinsola Ismail, Adebisi Musbau, Unorji Kingsley, Toviho Enitan Olabode, Ajayi Kehinde, Ajayi Oluwabamidele, Badejo Emmanuel, Joshua Caleb, Okonye Precious, Charles Godfred Edward, Orekevwie Oghenetega, Iheakolam Joel and Habibu Salisu.
The U-18 girls’ list is led by 17-year-old Faith Okwose, who won two silver medals in the 100 and 200m events behind Godbless at the National Sports Festival last December in Asaba, Delta State.
Others are Yakpobeyan Justina Tiana, Oyebode Stella Oluwaremilekun, Nwachukwu Chioma, Onyah Favour Onyinye, Saibu Yetunde Olayinka, Prestina Ochonogor, Ewa Peace, Irivi Precious, Djoma Fejiro Praise, Ofuoku Nyerhovwo, Ovedje Oke Gift and Kparika Victoria.
Israel Okon Sunday is in the U-18 boys’ list, which also has Daje Lucky, John Caleb, Samuel Ogazi, Olanrewaju Olawole Erioluwa, Francis James Musa, Pam Paul James, Fiaku Goodluck, Aninze Ifeanyi, Isaac Chukwuwike Miracle, Sadiq Zakariyya, Dickson Christain, Badmus Gafar Atanda and Blessing Emmanuel.
According to AFN’s Technical Director, Samuel Onikeku, the camp will open tomorrow at the High Perfromance Centre, Abuja. Nigeria finished third (13 gold, six silver and 13 bronze medals) behind South Africa and Kenya in the last edition of the championships held at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.
