Edo 2020: Okezie Storm to 400m Gold for Team Delta

Team Delta’s Chidi Okezie brushed aside all oppositions to storm to the 400m gold medal yesterday at the ongoing 2020 National Sports Festival in Benin, Edo State.

At the last edition in Abuja, the US-based quarter miler failed to get to the final and there was anxiety around his performance as he failed to win his heat.

However, here at Edo 2020, Okezie came out smoking from the block as he raced to a new Personal Best to win the title for Delta State.

In a tension-filled final, which provided a fitting climax to the Day 1 and 2 of the track & field events inside the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, it was the Delta State athlete who delivered, claiming a decisive victory in 45.60secs, 0.48secs clear of Team Lagos’ Emmanuel Ojeli.

The third member of the ‘terrific trio’ Sikiru Adeyemi – who was the second athlete to run inside 46secs this year – had the consolation of snatching bronze in 46.51secs following a strong late surge. Samson Nathaniel was fourth in 47.18.

The women’s 400m final provided an enthralling spectacle for the few fans at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium, and in a race that was billed as experience against youth, it was the youth that prevailed as Nse Uko Imaobong produced a rip-roaring victory to snatch victory from Patience Okon-George.