By Gracious Akujobi The fourth edition of Nigeria’s foremost Junior Athletics Championship, D. K. Olukoya U-18 National Athletics Championship begins at the Dipo Dina Stadium, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun state from February 27-28 with 15 states and seven clubs already registered.
“This edition serves as trials for three major championships, the Africa Youth Championship in Gaborone, Botswana, which we are the defending champion, the IAAF World Junior Championships in Oregon, USA, and Youth Olympic Games, Nanjing, China” Secretary General of Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) Olumide Bamiduro, told Prompt News Online.
From its humble beginnings about four years ago, Dr. D .K U-18 Athletics Championship has grown to become the nation’s number one Junior Championship, which now serves as trial for major continental and global championships and games.
The championship has produced the likes of Florence Nkiruka Uwakwe, a gold medalist at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games, Bukola Abogunloko, a bronze and silver medalist in 400m and Medley Relay at the same edition Youth Olympic Games.
Abogunloko was also a member of the Team Nigeria 4x400m quartet that made the finals at the London 2012 Olympics and Moscow 2013 IAAF World Championships.
Other rising stars discovered at the championship include Ese Brume, Africa Youth and Junior Champion in Long Jump, Favour Ada Benjamin, and Fabian Ejovi. The championship also led to the discovery of continental champions like Divine Oduduru and Ifeanyi Atuma.
It is believed that this edition, like previous ones, will also produce many continental and global champions.
