Nigerian sprint sensation Favour OgheneTejiri Ashe reclaimed the men’s 100 metres national title after storming to a new personal best of 9.93 seconds in the final of the 2026 Commonwealth Games Trials held in Lagos.
Ashe won the title four years ago in 2022 at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games trials in Benin city, Edo State in a time of 9.99secs.
At the trials in Lagos, Ashe beats Adekalu Fakorede who also ran a new personal best of 9.98secs to the second position while the current national champion, Chidera Ezeakor placed third also with a new personal best of 10:03secs.
Bayelsa’s Godwin Tejiri, was 4th also with a new personal best of 10.20secs edging former champion, Enoch Adegoke who returned a time of 10.27secs to fifth position.
An excited Ashe told journalists after the big win that he had become a more disciplined athlete following his US experience.
He appreciated the President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, Chief Tonobok Okowa, for his counsel and advice to return home from Qatar to join the Nigerian team.
According to a statement issued by the AFN Media Coordinator, Dr. Kolawole Oredipe, the trials produced several outstanding performances across various events.
In the 400m men, the final produced three sub-46secs, an indication that the race was a cracker.
Former US athlete, Tyler Johnson, who recently completed his switch of allegiance to Nigeria, became the new Nigerian 400metres men’s champion with a time of 45.76secs, followed by Victory Achakpoekiri, in second position with 45.91secs and Emmanuel Ojeli in third position with 45.94secs.
Veteran Chidi Okezie, returned a seasoned best of 46.25secs for a joint fourth placed finish with Victor Samson.
In the 400m women’s final, veteran Patience Okon-George, won the race with 51.85secs followed by Taiwo Kudoro in second position with 52.30secs and the new kid on the block, Faith Ezechukwu of Bayelsa State who returned third with a new personal best of 53.12secs.
In the 800m women’s final, it was a comfortable win for Comfort James in a time of 2:07:91secs while Ayomide Olaitan became Nigerian champion in the men’s version in a time of 1:53:36sec followed by Bayelsa’s youngster Samson Teibowei, in second position with a new personal best of 1:54:21secs.