Nigeria at the weekend selected 44 athletes and six coaches to represent the country at the 18th African Senior Athletics Championships scheduled to begin on Wednesday, June 27 at the Stade d’Lamite in Port Novo, Benin Republic.
The Team Nigerian track and field contingent made up of 19 male and 25 female athletes is expected to surpass the second position the country placed behind hosts Kenya with eight gold, five silver and five bronze medals.? It was a straight fight between Nigeria and Kenya who tied on five gold medals each till the final day two years ago.
Newly appointed Technical Director of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Navy Capt. Omatseye Nesiama said that the athletes selected for the trip to the African Championships were selected based on their current forn and performance at the Nigerian Olympic trials in Calabar last week.
The athletes selected for the trip to neighbouring Benin Republic for the 2012 edition of the African Championships include; Men 100m, 200m, 4x100m; Obinna Metu, Ogho Oghene Egwero, Stanley Azie, Ike Patrick Chinedu, Seye Ogunlewe, Peter Emelieze and? Durotoye Adetoyi. 400m, 4x400m;? Abiola Onakoya, Segun Ogunkole, Isah Salihu, Saul Weigopwa, Tobi Ogunmola, Noah Akwu and Godday James. 110m hurdles; Samuel Okon and Nurudeen Selim. 400m hurdles; Amaechi Morton. Long Jump; Stanley Gbagbeke. Triple Jump; Tosin Oke.
Women; 100m, 200m and 4x100m; Blessing Okagbare, Gloria Asumnu, Lawretta Ozoh, Christy Udoh, Oludamola Osayomi and Isoken Wisdom. 400m, 4x400m; Regina George, Omolara Omotosho, Bukola Abogunloko, Endurance Abinuwa, Idara Out and Margaret Etim. 100m? hurdles; Seun Adigun and Uhunoma Naomi Osazuwa. 400m hurdles; Ajoke Odumosu. High jump; Doreen Amata. Long? jump; Blessing Okagbare and Chinasom Amadi. Heptathlon; Uhunoma Naomi Osazuwa and Kemi Francis. Shot put; Vivian Chukwuemeka. 800m; Agber Shimenenge. Triple jump; Blessing Ibrahim Ibukun. Javelin; Patience Okoro and Benedicta Ituah. Throw; Chinwe Okoro.
The coaches selected are led by Innocent Egbunike, Christopher Dumez, Paul Obodoechina, Olu Sule, Solomon Aliyu, Gabriel Opuana,Adebayo Kolawole and? Ken Oniguluchi.
Ex internationals, Sunday Uti and Falilat Ogunkoya Omotayo are to act as Team Manager and Chaperon respectively.
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