The MTN CHAMPS Benin Athletics Classics commenced with over 2,000 athletes participating. Benjamin Magaji led the senior men’s 400m with a personal best, while Miracle Sonny excelled in the junior women’s category. Many athletes recorded season and personal bests, setting the stage for exciting finals in upcoming days.
The MTN CHAMPS Benin Athletics Classics commenced at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium and UNIBEN Sports Complex, showcasing standout performances from Team MTN’s Benjamin Magaji, Miracle Sonny, and Adaeze Ezeh. The event attracted over 2,000 athletes, marking an exciting Day 1 of competition as athletes demonstrated their readiness for the upcoming 2025 athletics season, achieving new personal bests and multiple season records.
Benjamin Magaji emerged as one of the top competitors, clocking a personal best of 48.23 seconds in the senior men’s 400m heats. He executed a tactical race, retaining his lead throughout and securing the fastest overall time leading into the semis and finals. Emmanuel Baraburu and Emmanuel Salubi followed closely with times of 48.27 and 48.53 seconds, respectively.
In the junior women’s division, Miracle Sonny triumphed with the fastest overall time of 54.92 seconds in the 400m, marking her return to MTN CHAMPS. She was joined by Victoria Olaniyi, who achieved a new personal best of 55.62 seconds, and Success Okoro with a time of 55.92 seconds. Each performed exceptionally in their respective heats.
For the junior men’s 400m, Gafar Badmus recorded the fastest overall time of 47.94 seconds, leading Heat 6. David Akhalu and Eniola Shiro followed, finishing with times of 48.22 and 48.30 seconds respectively, showcasing a strong performance in a competitive field.
In the youth (U17) girls’ 400m, Elizabeth Olumide led with a time of 58.20 seconds, followed by Team MTN’s Chizoba Onyemauwa and Agape Elisha who clocked 59.30 and 59.63 seconds. The boys also showed strong results, with Emmanuel Chukwueweniwe leading the qualifiers.
The junior women’s 100m semis featured Mmesoma Ezeobi, who posted the fastest time of 11.88 seconds, narrowly beating Miracle Ezechukwu. Other finalists included Cynthia Chioma, Success Oyibu, and several others, all posting competitive times.
Caleb John stood out in the junior men’s semis, achieving a season’s best time of 10.59 seconds. He was closely followed by Juliand Efejuku and Abdulrahman Jimoh. Finalists included Gift Bright and David Osuya among others, contributing to a tight race. Adaeze Ezeh impressively leapt 6.05m to win the junior women’s long jump event, with Jennifer Osemijengie and Franca Ajagbawa winning silver and bronze, respectively.
Looking ahead, Day 2 of the competition will feature finals in the 100m and 400m across all age categories, along with the heats for the 4x100m relay, continuing until March 15th.
The MTN CHAMPS Benin Athletics Classics successfully kicked off with numerous athletes achieving personal bests and showcasing their talent. Significant performances included Benjamin Magaji’s 400m win and exceptional times set by Miracle Sonny and other participants. As the competition progresses, the anticipation for upcoming finals builds, promising to highlight further athletic prowess in the coming days.
Original Source: punchng.com
