Nigeria’s in-form shot put athlete, Chukwuebuka Cornnell Enekwechi and female quarter-miler, Ella Onojuvwevwo have shown great form in USA ahead of this year’s National Trials in Lagos, but they both placed second in their events.
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Sports247 reports that Enekwechi threw a huge 21.43m effort during his latest international outing, but it was good enough only for second place at the World Athletics Continental Gold Tour in Ostrava.
Enekwechi’s effort fell short of top spot only because two-time World Athletics Championship medallist, Leonardo Fabbri notched up his 10th victory of the year in the men’s shot put and retained his Golden Spike title with 21.91m.
Nonetheless, the Nigerian muscle man’s efforts at the competition in Ostrava gave a bold inkling of what to expect from him when he returns home for the upcoming National Trials at Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH).
The crème de la crème of Nigeria’s elite athletes are expected to put up the best of their efforts during the trials in Lagos, where the country’s track and field contingent to this year’s Commonwealth Games will emerge.
Incidentally, the 33-year-old Enekwechi, who was born in New York, USA, won silver at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and he is the reigning African men’s shot put champion as well as 2019 African Games gold medalist and National Sports Festival winner.
In another highlight of the evening, Cameroon’s Nigerian-born sprinter, Emmanuel Eseme clocked 9.99 in the men’s 100m to place second behind South Africa’s Bayanda Walaza, who equalled his personal best and won the race in 9.94.
Enekwechi’s latest feat came three days after Onojuvwevwo also placed second in the women’s 400m at the USATF Los Angeles Grand Prix meeting in the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold.
Aaliyah Butler won the female quarter mile event in 49.90 seconds, ahead of Onojuvwevwo, who clocked 50.25sec, while 2025 world indoor champion, Chris Bailey took the men’s event in 44.57 and Greece’s George Franks followed in 45.21.
Elsewhere, Alida van Daalen broke USA’s women’s discus record at the NCAA Championships with 65.98m, while Temitope Adeshina won the women’s high jump on countback from Rose Yeboah, with both athletes clearing 1.96m.
