Adegoke hopes to rediscover his best form and qualify for the Olympics

Sprinter Enoch Adegoke made the final of the men's century at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic 100m but has failed to discover the form that made him compete for the title of the Fastest Man in the World with the cream de cream of world sprinters in the 100m has vowed to recover his best form.

 Adegoke ran a season-best of 10.20s, not an encouraging time, at the MTN Champs athletics meet in Ibadan.

One of Nigeria’s 4x100m gold-winning quartets at the 2023 African Games in Ghana, Adekalu Fakorede, finished second behind Adegoke with a personal best of 10.23s, while Olaolu Olatunde also clocked a new PB of 10.47s in third place.

Probably under an illusion, Adegoke described the win as a big boost for his mission to represent the country again in Paris.

“As the son of the soil, I feel proud of winning in Ibadan. I feel good, and running a season’s best was one of my targets. I came targeting 10.00s or 10.01s, actually, but I’m happy with the time I ran. Everything is in progress; I know the time is still coming,” the 24-year-old told Punch.

 “Coming from Dynamics Meet to the National Trials, I just thank God that I am beating down the time. It’s a sign of good things to come, and I’m not rushing myself while I put my mind to it at the same time,” he added.

With the likes of Favour Ashe, who has produced a world lead of 9.99s recently, national champion and African Games silver medallist Usheoritse Itsekiri, and new sensation Consider Ekanem, Adegoke admits the competition is tough but will propel him as well.

He said, “The 100m in Nigeria is very competitive, and that has kept me on my toes with the feeling that I have to sit tight and not be lackadaisical.

“Being at the Olympics again is very important; you know, being an Olympian is a great feat, but attending more than once is a greater feat, and this time around, not just as a finalist but as a medalist.”

 At the Tokyo Games, which were held in 2021, Adegoke became the 11th Nigerian to break the 10s barrier in the men’s 100m when he ran 9.98s in the semi-finals, and he also became the third Nigerian to reach the 100m final at the Olympics after Davidson Ezinwa and Olapade Adeniken.