Huge Turn Out at Bayelsa U-15 Secondary Schools Athletics Meet in Yenagoa

-As Athletics Association Promises to Groom Identified Talents for Greater Exploits 

By- Alambo Datonye 

Thousands of Students from public and private secondary schools across the Local Government Areas of Bayelsa State stormed Yenagoa to participate in a one-day Under-15 Secondary Schools Athletics Meet organized by the Bayelsa State Athletics Association.

The event which held at the Bishop Dimeari Grammar School Field and the Samson Siasia Sports Complex, Ovom, Yenagoa was organised by the Bayelsa State Athletics Association.

 Evelyn Sunday of Community Secondary School, Edepie and Daniel Yorgo of Southern Ijaw School, Oporoma emerged fastest girl and boy in the one hundred meters dash just as winners were also crowned in other categories after intense competition.

It was a mammoth crowd of students who gathered at the BDGS field and the Samson Siasia Sports Complex, Ovom, Yenagoa to take advantage of the opportunity provided by the Bayelsa Athletics Association to hone their talent in track and fields at the one-day Under-15 Secondary Schools Athletics Meet.

After rounds of competition, Evelyn Sunday of CSS, Edepie won the girls 100 meters race in 13.16 seconds while Mercy Genuine of Bayelsa State Sports Academy, Asoama finished second in 13.50 seconds and Stella Obot of CSS Elebele was third in 13.65 seconds.

Daniel Yorgo of Southern Ijaw Secondary School, Oporoma breasted the tape first  in 11.56 seconds to emerge boys’ 100m champion, beating Augustine Godgift of Ijaw National Academy, Kaiama  who was second in 11.71 seconds and Otokolo Preye of Bayelsa Sports Academy, Asoama who finished 3rd in 11.75 secs.

In Girls shot put, Dams Winner of INA. Kaima threw 8.05 meters to take first position just as school mate, Iyadoghe Fidelis won the boys’ category with a throw of 11.78 meters.

The boys’ 400 meters was won by Embrikegbamo Emmanuel of INA, Kaiama in 53.25 seconds as Francis Unique of Saint Jude’s Girls, Amarata topped others in the girls event in 1minute, 03 point 72 seconds.Felix Ebakamo of INA, Kaiama clinched first prize in girls 800 meters in 2minutes, 35.55 seconds while Ikuru Emmanuel of CCSS Elebele finished first in the boys race in 2minutes, 12 point 62 seconds.

Javelin Girls Final was won by Aki Agathe of Tare Pet in 19.75 meters while Lucky Divine of CSS Okutukutu/Etegwe won the boys event with a throw of 37.15 meters.

Long jump girls’ gold went to Justina Samuel with a leap of 4.75 meters as Suoyo Saviour of Southern Ijaw Secondary School, Oporoma topped others in the boys’ event with 5.84 meters just as school mate, Offering Peremobowei won the Discus boys final with a throw of 24.90 meters.

Some of the students expressed excitement at the opportunity to showcase their athletic talent in track and field events.

Chairman of the Bayelsa State Athletics Association, Dr. Kola Oredipe who was impressed with the turnout said the Association would use the competition to select and groom the young athletes for future National Youth Games and other competitions.

 Head Coach of Bayelsa Athletics, Richard Torugbene assured that the coaching crew would work on the talent of the identified athletes and nurture them to stardom.

National Treasurer of the Nigerian Schools Sports Federation and Bayelsa State Coordinator of the NSSF, Godwin Adagbo who was present was impressed with the array of talent that showed up at the Meet.

The meet which focused more on the field events including Long Jump, Triple Jump, High Jump, Shot Put, Javelin, and Discus is also being used to select athletes for future National Youth Games.