Yomi Omogbeja (14/03/2005)

National 1500m champion Tawa Adedigba, Athens Olympics debutant Damola Osayemi and 17-year-old university undergraduate, Peter Emelieze, were the major highlights at the 1st south-west zonal U-23 athletics meet in Ibadan, Oyo State Nigeria.

The developmental meeting was held over the weekend at the Liberty Stadium.

The 21-year-old Adedigba from Oyo state, who also competes for the Immigration services, won the women's 800m in 2 minutes 10:81seconds and the 1500m in 4 minutes 41:27seconds.

Damola Osayemi, silver medalist at the 2004 Mobil national track and field championships and a member of the Olympics 4x100m relay team, easily took the women's 100m in 11.78 seconds.

The Ekiti State athlete,19, beat Edo State's Kate Areguguan (11.88s) to the second place while Sola Abioye Ogundemi of Ondo State was third in 12.21 seconds.

University of Lagos star Peter Emelieze, who was seventh in the 100m at the 2004 national Olympics trials, edged out Edo State's Chinedu Ike Peter, 21, to win the men's 100m in 10.58 seconds.

Unlucky Ike Peter, who had earlier blasted out a stunning 10.48 seconds to win his heat, crossed the finish line in 10.63 seconds. Segun Olaitan of Ogun State came third in 11.86 seconds.

Samson Idiata,17, of Edo state won the long jump with a leap of 7:28 metres, whilst Lucky Iyoha of Edo state took the men's 1500m race in 1 minute 53:05 seconds.