2025 MTN Champs: Early birds as gladiators set on maintaining dominance

Posted : 07 May 2025

As the 2025 MTN Champs kicked off in Uyo, the track and field gladiators began to stamp their authority as the dust billowed on the track at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo.

Day 1 of the cadet athletics meet, which also marked the start of the Grand Final in Uyo, took off in spectacular fashion at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium. It featured a range of events across different categories, including the Senior and Junior 400m races and the Youth 100m, among others.

The day was highlighted by the return of the reigning champions of the just-concluded NDDC Sports Festival, Victor Sampson. He returned to the track to assert his dominance once again, recording the fastest overall qualifier in the men’s 400m with a time of 46.55s, followed by Johnson Nnamani (47.00s), while Michael Ighogboja (47.54s) came in third.

In the women’s 400m, Odot Udo clocked the only sub-54 performance to dominate the category, recording a Personal Best (PB) time of 53.85s ahead of Rhoda Adisa, who also posted a lifetime best of 54.01s, and Rita Munachiso, who finished third overall in 54.69s.

Fresh from his gold-medal-winning feat at the MTN CHAMPS, Team MTN’s Ezekiel Asuquo breezed through his race, posting a time of 48.00s to win his heat in the fastest overall time in the Junior men’s 400m, beating Chidiebere Obed (49.33s) and Stephen Adejumo (49.57s).

In the women’s race, Miracle Sonny ran a time of 54.75s in Heat 1 to become the fastest across all heats. Elizabeth Olumide (54.85s) and Team MTN’s Toheebat Jimoh (55.83s) were the next top finishers.

Onyemech Peter Onoriode narrowly missed the Youth Boys’ 100m Championships Record (CR) of 11.09s, set by Team MTN’s Alvin Onyeama in Season 1 of the competition, crossing the line in 11.10s to post the fastest time among the other qualifiers.

Team MVP’s duo of Tunmise Ebimetan (11.34s) and Akolo Emmanuel (11.36s) followed closely.

In the Youth Girls’ 100m, Team MVP led the way with the three fastest times: Enilolobo Rebecca (12.64s), Bernice Onoriode (12.69s), and Promise Egbebe (12.71s).

The standings at the end of Day 1 saw Delta Secondary School leading with 10 points in the Youth women’s category, followed by Charity School (8 points), Ikot Ibiok Girls (6 points), and West Itam (5 points).

In the Junior mixed category, Akwa Ibom topped the standings with 20 points, ahead of Ikot Ibiok Girls (8 points), St. Brains Model College (8 points), and Ikot Okubo Community (6 points).

Cross River is currently in pole position in the Senior Mixed category with 21 points at the end of Day 1, 11 points ahead of Chosen International, with Charity of the Most Precious Blood in third with 6 points, and Nnamdi Azikiwe Secondary School fourth with 4 points.

A total of 2,187 athletes representing 136 secondary schools and 93 junior and senior teams are competing for honors at the MTN CHAMPS Grand Final, held from May 6 to 9.

2025 MTN Champs: Early birds as gladiators set on maintaining dominance

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