Bayelsa Athletics profile rising

…as relay teams strike silver medals at Niger Delta Games

The rise of Bayelsa State in athletics was the topic on the lips of sports stakeholders and guests at the final day of the just concluded Niger Delta Games when the relay teams won 3 silver and bronze medals in Benin City, Edo State.

Team Bayelsa unarguably presented the youngest contingents to the 2nd edition of the Niger Delta Sports Festival for Under-20 athletes.

Although, Team Bayelsa relinquished the 4×100metres relay gold won last year for male to Delta in Benin City, the young athletes proved to the large spectators that something new truly is happening to track and field events in the state.

The male relay quartet of Ebikiemo Ikadoi,  Sisan Efejuku, Perfect Faye and Tejiri Godwin settled for second place behind team Delta who had a clean swoop of gold medals on the track.

Also, the quartet of 14-year old Ebimoboere Christopher, Perezide Sigah, Gift Allison and Faith Ezechukwu won silver in the 4×100m relay for female.

Team Bayelsa made it a hat trick of silver medals won in the relays as the quartet of Ebimoboere Christopher, Perezide Sigah, Sisan Efejuku and Perfect Faye came second behind Delta in the mixed 4×100m relay.

Also, in the 4×400m relay for men, Mekioniso, Goodluck Johnbull, Sisan and Faye Perfect won bronze on the final day behind Akwa Ibom and Delta States. 

Teenage sensation, Samson Tebowei won two silver medals in the 800m and 1,500m for men, narrowly missing the gold medals in both events.

In 800m, Samson returned with a Personal best of 1:56.84 seconds and replicated same feat in the 1,500m event,  with a time of 4:22 secs.

In the Long jump event, the duo of Mekioniso Messiah and Ebikiemo Ikadoi could not make it to the podium but both had a new Personal Best of 6.90 metres.

The State Chairman, Bayelsa State Athletics Association, Dr. Kola Oredipe, was full of appreciation to the young athletes and team of coaches for their sterling performances at the Niger Delta Games.

Dr. Oredipe, stated that the association would this year hold several grassroots track and field events to discover more young athletes.

“You just imagine what we have done with these young athletes in less than two years. See the massive results and their progression. Our young athletes have announced Bayelsa to the world.”

“We will go to the hinterland, the riverine communities, hunt for talents, introduce them to athletics and harness the potential. We will focus more on field events like High Jump, Long Jump, the throws, Javelin, Discuss, Shot put and the rest. Bayelsa has got the potential and with the support of all, we will explore it”, Oredipe stated.