Udodi, Brume, Others Storm Benin City For AFN’s Olympics Trials

Udodi, Brume, Others Storm Benin City For AFN’s Olympics Trials

United States-based Nigerian sprinter, Udodi Onwuzurike and many other athletes, including Godson Brume, Tima Godbless and thrower Chinecherem Nnamdi, have arrived in the country and will storm the ancient city of Benin, Edo State, tomorrow ahead the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) National Trials starting on Sunday. The National Trials, which the AFN is using to select the nation’s athletes for the 2024 African Senior Championships in Douala, Cameroon and the Paris Olympics will end on June 18. It holds at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City. All the foreign-based athletes, their home-based counterparts, coaches and track and field administrators are expected to move into Benin City tomorrow. Already, top stars including World Record holder in the women's 100m hurdles, Tobiloba Amusan, red hot sprinter Favour Ashe and high jump record breaker, Temitope Adeshina, Ashe Favour, Temitope Adeshina and Samuel Ogazi have arrived in the country. United States-based Performance Director of AFN, Victor Okorie also arrived in Lagos today. He told AFN Media that Africa and Commonwealth Games long jump queen, Ese Brume would jet in on Sunday due to difficulties in securing a direct flight from the United States. The likes of Chukwuebuka Enekwechi and Chidi Okezie are expected to jet in today, Okezie just qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympics clocking a Personal Best of 44.97s with an Olympic Standard at the Edmonton Athletics Invitational. With this performance, Okezie moved up to 10th place in Nigeria's history and 2nd in the Nation this Season. He is the second Nigeria athlete to tick the Olympic qualifying mark in the 400 metres. Meanwhile, AFN President Tonobok Okowa, told AFN Media that the federation would pick only the best athletes, who are capable of winning medals for the country at the African Senior Championships in Douala. "For years, we have been looking for a way to top the medals table in the African Senior Championships, and I think we have the chance to make history this year in Douala, Cameroon based on the caliber of stars we have. We will pick only our best athletes in this National Trials not only for our trip to Cameroon but for the Paris Olympics," Okowa stated.