The 2026 Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) Commonwealth Games Trials in Lagos were not only about securing national titles and Commonwealth Games spots.
For a select group of athletes, the competition became a defining moment in their careers as they etched their names into history as the first recipients of the prestigious Ben Aghazu Excellence in Athletics Prize.
Created by AFN 2nd Vice President Akuchukwu Aghazu, the initiative was designed to reward hard work, inspire excellence and provide additional motivation for home-based athletes striving to compete at the highest level.
As the trials unfolded at the Yaba College of Technology Sports Complex, a new generation of Nigerian stars answered that challenge in remarkable fashion.
The first breakthrough came in the women’s 5,000 metres, where five athletes produced the race of their lives.
Leading the historic group was Delta State’s Vivian Obadiah, who crossed the finish line in a personal best of 17:24.85.
Her victory not only earned her the race title but also made her the first athlete to meet the benchmark for the Ben Aghazu Excellence Prize.
Close behind her was Mary Jah Bulus of D-MSF, who also shattered her previous best with a time of 17:26.28. Osheku Athletics Academy’s Aminat Adenike Alabi followed in third place in 17:26.51, while D-MSF athlete Nvou Gyang Tanko clocked 17:26.82.
Completing the historic quintet was Arinde Miracle Boluwatife of D’Star Athletics Academy, who crossed the line in 17:33.07.
What made their achievement even more special was that all five athletes recorded personal best performances while surpassing the required benchmark.
It was a clear demonstration of the growing depth of women’s distance running in Nigeria and a powerful endorsement of the prize’s objective.
As the competition moved into the sprint events, another name emerged.
Miracle Ezechukwu delivered one of the performances of the championships in the women’s 100 metres final.
Competing against elite opposition that included eventual champion Blessing Ogundiran, Ezechukwu stormed to a personal best of 11.15 seconds.
Although she finished second, her time was enough to secure the Ben Aghazu Excellence Prize benchmark, making her one of the standout beneficiaries of the initiative.
Her performance highlighted the strength of Nigeria’s home-based sprinting programme and proved that local athletes can compete with the very best when given the right platform and motivation.
The men’s 100 metres final then produced perhaps the most spectacular display of the entire championships.
Favour Ashe electrified the crowd with a blistering personal best of 9.93 seconds, becoming the only athlete in the field to break the 10-second barrier. His world-class performance not only secured victory but also earned him a place among the Excellence Prize winners.
Joining Ashe on the list was Chidera Ezeakor of Team Customs, whose outstanding 10.03-second personal best earned him third place and qualification for the award benchmark.
Teenage sensation Tejiri Godwin of Bayelsa State completed the trio of male recipients after clocking a personal best of 10.20 seconds.
Despite competing against some of the country’s most established sprinters, the youngster displayed maturity and composure beyond his years to secure his place among the award winners.
From Vivian Obadiah’s historic breakthrough in the 5,000 metres to Miracle Ezechukwu’s sprinting heroics and the explosive performances of Favour Ashe, Chidera Ezeakor and Tejiri Godwin, the inaugural winners of the Ben Aghazu Excellence in Athletics Prize embodied everything the initiative was created to celebrate.
Their achievements were not just about prize benchmarks or personal bests.
They represented determination, resilience and the emergence of a new generation of Nigerian athletes ready to make their mark on the continental and global stage.
As the curtains fell on the Commonwealth Games Trials, one thing became clear: the Ben Aghazu Excellence in Athletics Prize has already begun fulfilling its mission, and these pioneering winners may well be the first of many future champions it helps inspire.
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