2022 Nigeria Athletics Championships: First national titles thrill Ashe, Nwokwocha

Favour Ashe and Grace Nwokwocha Saturday claimed their first national titles on Day 2 of action at the Nigerian Championships in Benin City as the duo won the 100m Men's and Women’s events respectively.

Ashe won with a new personal best of 9.99s as he became only the second athlete after Deji Aliu to run under 10 seconds on Nigeria soil.

The 20-year-old also officially became the 12th Nigerian athlete to go under 10 seconds.

“I am very happy right now, I didn’t expect I would do this but after running in the semi-final, I knew something big was coming in the final” an elated Ashe told Athletics Africa after his historic race.

Asked if he was pushed to run faster by the likes of Alaba Akintola who finished second with a time of 10.06s or Godson Brume who claimed, the third spot, Ashe insists it was more of him executing his race than his rivals pushing him.

He said: “Nobody pushed me to run this fast, I just came with the mindset to execute my race.”

Looking ahead to the World Championship in Orgeon and Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, Ashe says his confidence level is at an all-time high and ready to take the world by storm next month

“Before now my confidence was at 50% but now I am at 100% and ready to go and do some good races at the World Championships and Commonwealth Games” Ashe who is making a third appearance at the Nigeria championship declared.

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He continued “ I am so grateful to God that this time I won the title

“I have run a lot of 10.0s and even a wind-aided 9.76s so I knew it was only a matter of time before I will go under 10 secs.

Fresh his exploits in the NCAA he finished second in the 100m, Ashe was also instrumental to Team Nigeria  4x100m team improved ranking that puts them in good stead to qualify for Oregon 2022.

While Ashe dominated the men’s  100m race, Nwokwocha finished in pole position in the Women’s version with a time of 11.03s ahead of fellow NCAA finalist, Rose Chukwuma who came second with 11.07s while Chima Godbless was third with 11.38s.

Tobi Amusan provided the icing on the cake for the second day of action at the Nigeria trials; setting a new Championship record in the 100m hurdles event.

Amusan who had set a new African Record of 12.41s just before coming for the three-day event in Benin ran a time of 12.54s on Saturday to not only retain her national title but also set a new Championship Record.

Abejoye Oyeniyi also retained his 110m Hurdles National title in a time of 13.78s.on Saturday.