Teenager Okon Claims First National 100m Title in Thrilling Sprint Final

Israel Okon announced his arrival as Nigeria’s newest sprint star, storming to his first 100m national title at the 2025 Nigerian Athletics Championships in Lagos with a blistering 10.04s finish, Sport360NG reports.

The 18-year-old edged a fiercely competitive field, narrowly beating Alaba Akintola, who took silver in 10.05s, while Adekalu Fakorede clinched bronze with 10.07s. Just outside the podium was former national champion Seye Ogunlewe, clocking a swift 10.09s in what proved to be one of the fastest and most closely contested finals in recent memory.

Also featuring in the high-octane showdown were Olaolu Olatunde (10.15s), James Emmanuel (10.16s), and Enoch Adegoke (10.20s), underscoring the growing depth of Nigeria’s sprint talent pool.

Notably absent was defending champion Kanyinsola Ajayi, who withdrew late from the competition. In a post shared via X (formerly Twitter), Ajayi cited personal reasons and later confirmed he chose to sit out the final to avoid aggravating a potential injury.

Okon, who won the 200m title at last year’s championships, described his latest achievement as a dream fulfilled. Speaking after the race, he said:
“I’m really happy and excited. Winning my first national 100m title means a lot, it’s something I’ve worked very hard for.”

When asked about the absence of Ajayi, Okon downplayed any suggestion of an easier path to victory, saying:
“Everyone who made it to the final earned their place. We’re all competitors, and anything can happen on the day. I just focused on running my own race.”

With just 0.05s separating the top three finishers, Okon emphasized the importance of mental composure in such a tight race.
“I knew the field was strong, but I stayed relaxed and concentrated on what I needed to do. I’m glad it all came together for me,” he added.

As for his next steps, the young sprinter remains uncertain but optimistic about potential international opportunities.
“It’s not clear yet what the plan is moving forward. That’s up to the team and the federation, but I trust my coach, Ken, and the preparation we’ve done,” he said.

Amusan Makes Long-Awaited Homecoming

Elsewhere at the championships, world record holder Tobi Amusan returned to compete on Nigerian soil for the first time since 2021. She breezed through her 100m heat in 11.28s to secure a place in Sunday’s semifinal and is also slated to compete in the 100m hurdles final.

More Track Highlights

In the men’s 400m, Gafar Badmus kept up his fine form, winning his semifinal in 46.93s after an impressive 45.91s in the heats. David Akhalu followed closely to also qualify for the final, while Ezekiel Asuquo topped the other semifinal in 47.07s, ahead of Victor Sampson and Benjamin Magaji.

Meanwhile, Nnamdi Onwaeze captured his first national title in the 110m hurdles, clocking 14.13s to narrowly beat Wisdom Musa (14.19s), who had earlier posted a personal best of 13.73s in the qualifiers.