Favour Ashe of Delta State won the highest-profile gold medal at the Niger Delta Sports Festival in Uyo on Thursday, claiming the men’s 100m title in athletics.
The 22-year-old sprint star, who represented Nigeria at the Paris 2024 Olympics and reached the 100m semi-finals, eased to gold in the final in Uyo in a time of 10.16 seconds.
Ashe was well clear of the pack, with Bayelsa State pair of Lucky Daje (10.45s) and Augustine Ezuruike (10.48s) earning silver and bronze respectively.
“This is my first race of the season since August. These past seven months have been very difficult for me mentally but I still try my best to go back to training, stay focused because I want to run fast,” Ashe told NDSF media after his triumph.
“I gave myself a limit of 10.1 or 10.2 being my first race, so I’m fine that I was within the mark. I want to thank Niger Delta Development Commission and all the sponsors for putting together this competition.”
Jennifer Chukwuma made it a sprint double for Delta State by winning the women’s 100m gold in 11.41s.
Sophia Efetobore of Bayelsa chased her all the way to the finish line to bag silver in
11.48s, with Delta’s Kate Odumoso securing bronze in 11.55s.
Delta added another gold through Temitope Ademola in women’s shot put with her throw of 12.55m. Her teammate Linda Nwagbo came second with 11.87m.
Delta’s dominance was extended to the men’s triple jump event in which the state’s representative Ine Emmanuel won gold.
