Banner Online News

Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, has congratulated Team Delta athletes for their impressive performances at the just-concluded Commonwealth Games National Trials in Lagos, with special praise for sprint star Favour Ashe, who etched his name into the record books as Nigeria’s fastest man.

Ashe delivered a sensational performance at the championships, clocking a personal best of 9.93 seconds to win the men’s 100 metres title and establish himself as the fastest Nigerian ever to claim the national championship. The feat also makes him the fastest athlete to run the event on Nigerian soil.

The Delta-born sprinter, who was among the foreign-based athletes sponsored by the Delta State Government to participate in the trials, justified pre-race confidence after boldly predicting victory before the competition.

He first stormed to a time of 9.98 seconds in the semifinals before improving further to 9.93 seconds in the final to secure the national crown in emphatic fashion.

Ashe’s latest triumph marks the second time he has broken the 10-second barrier to win the national title, having previously clocked 9.99 seconds to emerge champion in 2022 in Benin City.

Reacting to the achievement, Governor Oborevwori, in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Sir Festus Ahon, described Ashe’s historic run as a source of pride for Delta State and Nigeria.

The governor said the athlete’s success underscored the effectiveness of the state’s sustained investment in sports development and athlete welfare, adding that Team Delta continues to justify its reputation as Nigeria’s leading sporting powerhouse.

Oborevwori also commended other Team Delta athletes who excelled at the championships.

In the women’s 400 metres, veteran quarter-miler Patience Okon-George reaffirmed her class by winning the national title in 51.87 seconds. The victory marked her fifth national crown and her first since 2021, while Kudoro Taiwo finished second in the event.

The men’s 400 metres title was claimed by Johnson Tyler, who recently switched allegiance from the United States to Nigeria. Tyler raced to victory in 45.75 seconds ahead of Achakpoekiri Victory, who secured silver in 45.91 seconds, while Emmanuel Ojeli settled for bronze with a time of 45.94 seconds.

Team Delta also celebrated success in the women’s shot put event, where Divine Oladipo successfully defended her national title with a throw of 16.90 metres, extending her unbeaten streak at the Nigerian Championships.

Governor Oborevwori reiterated his administration’s commitment to supporting athletes and providing opportunities for them to excel at both national and international levels.

He expressed confidence that Team Delta would continue to produce world-class athletes capable of bringing further glory to Delta State and Nigeria on the global stage.