The [link id=”128″ tax=”post_tag” text=”Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN)”] has released the names of 40 young athletes (24 boys and 16 girls) to go into regional camps across the country in preparations for the [link id=”174″ tax=”post_tag” text=”CAA”] African and IAAF World Youth Athletics Championships holding in Mauritius and Colombia respectively in April and July this year.
The Technical Director of the AFN, Navy Commodore [link id=”148″ tax=”post_tag” text=”Omatseye Nesiama”], said having a regional form of camping became necessary because of next week [link id=”5″ tax=”category” text=”Nigerian”] elections and also the fact that most of the athletes are in school.
“Due to the fact that most of the athletes selected are in school and of course with the polls around this same time, the Technical Committee has directed a regional form of camping for the time-being.
“All athletes and coaches are to contact the AFN Secretary General for necessary administrative briefs while also immediately commence intensive training at their respective locations in preparation for final selection trials/closed camping in the first week of April,” Nesiama said.
Selected athletes include:
Girls
100/200m – Aniekeme Alphonsus, Abolaji Omotayo Oluwaseun, Blessing Adiakerenwa, Bukunmi Oloye and Praise Idamadudu.
400m – Ikwo Emems and Knowledge Omovoh
100m hurdles – Vivian Nnenna Akunna
400m hurdles – Fegor Clifford
Long Jump – Omolayo Omosola and Okolosi Oghenekome
Triple Jump – Uche Brown and Peace Nwaelehia.
High Jump – Anigbata Grace and Esther Isaac
Race Walk – Florence Fadakemi Olude
Boys
100/200m – Olisawe Chukwu, Igube ThankGod, Jare Folarin, Jakpa Jerry and Chibuike Egochinam
400m – Adewale Sikiru Adewale, Precious Moses, Roland Iruedo and Shedrack Akpeki
800m – Okeke Chidi,
110m hurdles – Ojeikere Omon and Kufre Essien,
400m hurdles – Airen Williams, Christian Martins
Javelin – Prior Ochonogor, Ezekiel Nyong and Matanmi Rasaq.
Shot Put – Isaac Odugbesan ,
High Jump – Ayebide Kingsley and Uko Jeremiah Daniel
Long Jump – Emmanuel Tobechukwu and Pius Nzube Ihezue
Triple Jump – Effiom Emmanuel and Ibeh Alphonsus.
Coaches:
Gad Onumegbu (Hurdles)
Enefiok Udo-Obong (Long Sprints)
Dele Solomon (Long Sprints)
Emily Osakwe (Horizontal Jumps)
Abiodun Johnson (Short Sprints)
Endurance Ojokolo (Short Sprints).
Saheed Akinpelu (Middle Distance)
George Obiano (Horizontal Jumps)
Johnny Egbuka (Vertical Jumps)
Dauda Omizi (Throws)
Anthony Moses (Hurdles)
Oluwole Odunuga(Race Walk)
Ken Onuaguluchi (Throws)
Olalekan Soetan (Vertical Jumps).
Nine seniors for World Relays camp
Meanwhile Commodore Nesiama also confirmed that nine senior athletes have been shortlisted for camping in Abuja to prepare for the 2nd [link id=”332″ tax=”post_tag” text=”IAAF World Relays”] in Nassau, The Bahamas in May.
The athletes invited to Abuja are:
Women: Folashade Abugan, Omolara Omotoso, Rita Ossai, Tosin Adeloye for the women while the
Men: Noah Akwu, Orukpe Erakoyan, Fasasi Rilwan, Tobi Ogunmola, Isah Salihu
Coach: Gabriel Okon
Nesiama said Athletics Nigeria also negotiated with the [link id=”199″ tax=”post_tag” text=”Athletics Kenya”] (AK) for the team to take part in the Kenyan Relays coming up on the April 2, 2015.
“We are inviting 9 senior athletes to our Abuja camp in preparation for the IAAF World Relays and we have also negotiated to participate in the Kenyan National Relays taking place on the 2nd of April. We are expected to present our 4x400m men and women teams,” he said.
He also said the team to the Worlds Relay will be selected from athletes based in Nigeria and the USA depending on athletes’ individual and collective performances.
