By Gracious Akujobi The track of the National Stadium, Abuja will be ignited come Saturday morning as athletes from all over the country start the race to have a stake in the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) Golden League N2, 000,000 jackpot.
The event is the first leg in the Golden League series, and subsequent editions will be spread across other cities in the country such as Ilorin, Akure, Kaduna, Benin City and Port Harcourt.
The Golden League events for women are 100/200m, 400m, 1,500m, 3000m/3000m Steeple Chase, 400m Hurdles, High jump, Long Jump, Shot Put, 4x100m Relay, 4x 400m relay.
The Promotional Events (women) include 100 Hurdles, Hammer/Discus, Triple Jump, Race Walk.
Their male colleagues will take part in the 100/200m, 400m, 5,000m, 110m Hurdles, 400mH, Triple Jump, High Jump, Javelin, Shot Put, 4x100m Relay, 4x400m Relay.
The Promotional Events (men) include 800m, Hammer/Discus, 3000m Steeple Chase, Race Walk.
The first four athletes in each of the above Golden League events shall automatically qualify for the next leg of the Golden league, while the remaining four will qualify from the All-comers events which will take place in the morning of event day.
To qualify for the jackpot, an athlete must win in all legs of Golden League and must participate at the Golden League Final.
Though athletes for the promotional events will not be considered for the Jackpot Prize, any athlete that breaks a national record would be considered for a prize money of N50,000 after ratification.
AFN Technical Director, Navy Commodore Omatseye Nesiama disclosed that the federation intends to use the Golden League series in assessing athletes’ fitness and level of preparation ahead of the major championships holding this year.
“We intend to use this competition to assess the current state of our athletes especially in the junior and senior categories. In the event that a junior athlete would be competing in the throws, the applicable implements according to their class would be used and results indicated accordingly.” He said.
Transport and accommodation subsidy as determined by the League Organisation Committee will be provided for the top four finishers in each of the Golden League events.
