MTN CHAMPS Abuja Grand Final: Team MVP shines as new winners emerge
Some of the 43 Most Valuable Performers (MVPs) selected across the first three legs of the MTN CHAMPS (Benin, Uyo and Ibadan) held their own to gain points for the team, while new winners emerged in other events to give the MVPs a good run for their money after two days of competition in the grand final at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja.
One of the standout performers was Youth Girls 100m Champion, Miracle Oluebube Ezechukwu who represented Nigerian Tulip International Secondary School. Ezechukwu set three Personal Bests (PB) enroute her victory, clocking 12.16s in the heats, and was the fastest overall in the semifinals, posting a new PB of 11.96s to top the Girls 100m going into the final. She then pulled away from the rest of the field to win in a new lifetime best of 11.93s to take GOLD.
Her friend and teammate Chigozie Nwankwo was the second fastest overall and claimed Silver in 12.19s, while Team MVP’s Success Oyibu also ran a PB of 12.31s to finish 3rd.
Team MVP’s Emmanuel Oyetunde shook off the threat posed by Doveland International School’s Khalil Saleh to cross the line 1st in 11.43s in the Youth Boys’ 100m as the latter settled for Silver, while David Nda-Isaiah of International Community School took the Bronze.
However, Team MVP’s Alvin Onyeama delivered the performance of the day as he shaved off more than two-tenths from his 100m PB, crossing the line in a new best of 11.09s in the semis, which would be the fastest time overall in that category.
Team MVP’s Adaeze Ezeh inspired a 1-2 for her team in the Cadet Girls’100m where she struck GOLD ahead of Faidah Abdulhamed, with Mwuese Zoko placing 3rd. It was a similar case in the Boys’ race as Team MVP’s Lucky Ebe took the win, with Abdulrahman Saleh of Foundation Science and Fervent Imoh of Team MVP following.
It was a Team MVP sweep in the Junior Girls’ 100m as Rosemary Edet stormed to GOLD in a new lifetime best of 11.82s, while Faith Osamuyi and Victoria Olaniyi settled for Silver and Bronze respectively. Team MVP’s pair of Osama Chibueze and Aina Precious claimed GOLD and Bronze respectively in the Junior Boys’ race, while Emmanuel Peter Aki took the Silver.
It was an explosive encounter in the Youth Boys’ 400m which ended in a Team MVP sweep. Eniola Shiro raised the bar in the semifinals, racing to a new PB of 50.53s, then further bettered his mark to 50.11s in the final. National Youth Games (NYG) Champion Michael Aniche and Prosper Ushie followed.
Another sweep was recorded in the Youth Girls’ 400m, with Miracle Sonny leading the way as Miracle Uwem and Patience Joseph followed her lead.
Yetunde Saibu who represented Nigeria at the African U-20 Championships earlier this year, came from behind to dominate the Junior Girls’ 400m. Miracle Isaac Chukwuwike emerged Junior Boys’ Champion in the event. Although he had his sights on running a sub 48s in Grand Final, he came very close to achieving that aim when he crossed the line in a new PB of 48.01s in the semis, then posted 48.04s in the final to finish ahead of Ezekiel Eno and Alphonsus Akwaga.
Angel Uaagbaoje and Queen Nwika were the Top 2 finishers in the Youth Girls’ Triple Jump, while Team MVP’s Anthony Lucky and Dele Fadumi of Birabi Memorial recorded the same positions in the Youth Boys’ category. Meekness Dogonyaro and Favour Omeh dominated the Junior Girls’ event, with Fiaku Goodluck Ezechukwuchiro and David Yamai doing same in the Junior Boys’ event.
With a clearance of 1.40m, Dabra Kio of Doveland International School took the Cadet Boys’ High Jump GOLD as Team MVP’s Moses Ogidi took Silver.
The 200m final across the Cadet, Youth and Junior categories will hold on the third and final day of the competition. Other events are the 800m final, 4x100m and 4x400m relay finals.
At the end of the competition, 20 athletes will be shortlisted, with 10 of them eventually being selected into the MoC Academy to be sponsored by MTN.
