Eyakpobeyan runs new lifetime best to edge Olajide to 100m title at 4th MoC Grand Prix in Lagos

Common Youth Games silver medalist, Justina Eyakpobeyan sped to a new lifetime of 11.24s (+0.9) to win the women’s 100m title at the 4th MoC Grand Prix held at the Sports Ground of Yaba College of Technology, Yabatech, on Saturday in Lagos.

The 17 year old broke the 11.25 personal best she set in qualifying for the 100m final at the Commonwealth Youth Games last year in Trinidad and Tobago.

Eyakpobeyan got out to a bullet start and held off a closing Olayinka Olajide by a hair’s breadth as the African Games silver medalist finished 2nd in 11.25s with Precious Nzeakor third with a lifetime-setting time of 11.47s.

In the men’s race, Sunday Israel Okon sped past a stacked field, equalling his personal best of 10.20 seconds with Olaolu Jason Olatunde (10.33 personal best) and Fakorede Nicholas second and third respectively.

African Games silver medalist, Esther Elo Joseph got ran a new 52.00 meeting record to win the 400m title ahead of Esther Okon who ran a new 52.71 personal best to finish second while Chioma Nwachukwu finished 3rd in 53.05, also a personal best.

Veteran quartermiler, Patience Okon-George was disqualified for a false start.

In the men’s 400m, Emmanuel Ojeli emerged first with a personal season’s best run of 46.14s, defeating Adeyemi Sikiru who was second in 46.56 and Samson Nathaniel was third in 46.89.

Iranian Sobhan Ahmadi dominated the men’s 800m, breaking the MR with a time of 1:48.53, the fastest time on Nigerian soil in six years. He finished ahead of Adedokun Ayobami who returned a time of 1:50.11.

African Games finalist Comfort James won the women’s race in an MR of 2:06.75, the fourth fastest time of her career to finish ahead of a well-improved Mercy Audu who set a new PB of 2:16.96 in 2nd place.

Faith Osamuyi was one of the athletes who set MRs at the 4th MoC Grand Prix, posting the fourth fastest time of her career in 13.58s (-0.2) to win the women’s 100m hurdles. She finished ahead of Grace Ayemoba who had the former MR at 13.66s, the latter clocking 14.01s in 2nd place.

Rising sensation, Prestina Ochonogor dominated the women’s Long Jump, being the only athlete in the field to surpass 6m, going out to 6.54m on her fourth attempt.

It was the 17 year old, African U20 record holder’s fourth best legal winning jump of the year.

Cameroon’s Appolinaire Yinra edged Afoke Oshasha in the men’s Long Jump, reaching 7.23m to win over the Nigerian’s best attempt of 7.20m.