Junior Athletes Steal the Spotlight at MTN Champs in Benin 

BENIN CITY, Nigeria – The MTN Champs athletics event at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium witnessed thrilling performances over the weekend, with junior athletes dominating the track and setting new benchmarks in a showcase of emerging talent. 

Junior Boys’ 400m: Badmus Triumphs in Tight Finish
Gafar Badmus clinched gold in the Junior Boys’ 400m, crossing the line in a commanding performance. Eniola Shiro secured silver with a lifetime best of 47.18 seconds, while David Akhalu pipped Team MTN’s Ezekiel Asuquo by 0.06 seconds (47.40s to 47.46s) to claim bronze. 

Women’s 400m: Sonny Smashes Personal Best 
Miracle Sonny continued her stellar form, shaving time off her previous day’s personal best (PB) to win the women’s 400m final in 53.91 seconds. Victoria Olaniyi (54.97s) and Success Okoro (55.39s) completed the podium. 

Sprint Showdowns: Senior & U-20 Categories Deliver Drama 
In the Senior Men’s 100m, Chidera Ezeakor edged out Jeremiah Nathaniel and Daje Lucky in a nail-biting finish, clocking 10.60s to their 10.63s and 10.66s, respectively. The Senior Women’s 100m saw Sophia Efetobore blaze to victory in 11.52s, ahead of Faith Osamuyi (11.62s) and Odumosu Kate (11.71s). 

John Caleb dominated the Men’s U-20 100m final with a 10.63s dash, while Abdulrahman Jimoh (10.84s) and Wilfred Jimoh (10.86s) followed. The Junior Women’s 100m featured a photo finish, with Cynthia Chioma (11.84s) narrowly outpacing Success Oyibu (11.86s) and Mmesoma Thankgod Ezeobi (11.86s) for gold. 

MTN Official Hails Future Star
Osaze Evbueku, MTN’s Senior Go-To-Market Manager, emphasized the championship’s role in unearthing talent: “We’re confident new champions and records will emerge here. This platform is about nurturing Nigeria’s next generation of athletics stars.” 

The event, a hotspot for scouts and fans, underscored Nigeria’s depth in youth athletics, with several athletes signaling their potential for national and global stages.