The men’s and women’s 400m finals of the 2024 Athletics Federation of Nigeria National Trials stirred upset on the final day, as the University of Michigan Athlete Dubem Amene won the men’s title while Esther Joseph emerged as the winner in a strong women’s final on Tuesday, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The women’s final was the first to thrill the crowd as African Games silver medallist Joseph clocked 51.70s to win her first national title. She held off a late charge from Patience Okon-George who finished second in 51.76s and Imaobong Nse-Uko (third) in a season’s best of 52.04s.
Joseph underlined why her stock has been rising in the 400m, by beating a very strong field which also had Omolara Ogunmakinju.
Okon-George was the favourite to claim the title, having run the fastest time in the heats on Day 1, but Joseph came up with a strong finish on the outside lane.
The men’s final also created another thrilling spectacle as Amene also won his first national title clocking a time of 45.44s. He beat Emmanuel Ojeli (second) in a season’s best of 45.69s, while his brother Dubem Nwachukwu who posted a season’s best 45.70s was third.
Amene was nowhere in the race before they came into the home straight but the University of Michigan athlete picked up the pace and accelerated through the middle, to take the men’s 400m crown from Chidi Okezie who was also in the final.
Okezie, who had qualified for the Olympics returned home to defend his title which he won last year but was denied by Amene.
Second-place Ojeli, who won the title in 2019 was the second fastest qualifier and also ran his second fastest 400m in history during the final.
In the men’s 200m final, Sunday Israel Okon pulled an upset in the men’s final, storming to a new personal best of 20.80s to win.
He defeated Alaba Akintola, who was second in 20.81s, while Consider Ekanem followed in 20.88s.
Precious Nzeakor also took the women’s title in a new personal best of 23.14s. She edged Olayinka Olajide, who was second in a PB of 23.17s, while Ella Onojuvwevwo was third in 23.73s.
