Adegoke, Ezeakor Dead-Heat in Men’s 100m as Omokwe Blazes to Women’s Title at MTN CHAMPS
Tokyo Olympics finalist Enoch Adegoke and 20-year-old Chidera Ezeakor shared the spotlight in Ibadan as both men stormed to identical times of 10.15s in the Senior Men’s 100m final at the MTN CHAMPS Grand Final.
The thrilling finish not only gave Adegoke his third-fastest mark since his 9.98s run at the Tokyo Games in 2021, but also delivered a lifetime best for Ezeakor, who had never before beaten Adegoke in their seven previous head-to-head encounters.
Osama Chibueze added to the drama, clinching third place with a personal best of 10.35s.
On the women’s side, Maria Thompson Omokwe lit up the Lekan Salami Stadium with a sensational 11.26s run, a personal best that ties Miracle Ezechukwu’s mark as the fastest recorded on Nigerian soil in 2026.
Omokwe had already lowered her PB to 11.35s in the semi-finals before producing her finest performance in the final. Janet Sunday (11.66s PB) and Omoyemi Lydia Ajayi-Bibilomo (11.69s PB) rounded out the podium.
The Junior races were equally electrifying. Ejiro Peter claimed the women’s crown in 11.39s, following her semi-final PB of 11.29s. Chigozie Rosemary Nwankwo (11.48s) and Team MTN’s Lucy Nwankwo (11.57s) finished second and third.
In the Junior Men’s 100m, Abdulrahman Adewale Jimoh stormed to gold with a PB of 10.57s, ahead of Liberty Okon (10.62s PB) and Alvin Onyeama (10.66s PB).
Elsewhere, Ndiponke Okure, Sodiq Adebisi, and Olorunwa Olowu emerged as the top three in the Senior Men’s 400m Hurdles.
In the Junior category, Oseiwe Salami dominated with a lifetime best of 51.60s, securing gold ahead of Ibrahim Muhammed and Solomon Eloghosa Okundaye.
