Athletes, Journalists score Mobil2005 low

 Friday which witnessed a good number of events decided had no spectators in attendance, with just the athletes and officials of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria and sponsors, ExxonMobil in attendance. Despite the lack of glamour though, president of the federation Mrs. Violet Odogwu-Nwajei, told nigeriasports.com it has lived up to its billing as a “top class event.”

“From what we have witnessed so far, I’d say it has lived up to its billing as the top athletics event in the country. We’re gradually moving towards enthroning a new regime of  high standards and no longer mediocrity,” Violet, a 1966 Commonwealth Games bronze medalist said.Journalists covering the events attribute the lack of glamour to Abuja nature.”

“Abuja isn’t really like Lagos where you’d expect people to come out and watch an athletics event. Here, Brazil and Super Eagles could not have a half filed stadium. So you are expecting too much, if what you want to see are spectators to watch athletics,” Victor Iriole, a former ministerial aide and reporter with Lagos based Silverbird TV said. But a number of competing athletes though disagreed with her and scored the event on a much lower scale.

By Jo Benson

Among events decided already include:

5000M (Women):

1) Meprwoma Alex (Mountainer Club)- 17:28.47secs                             
2) Maria Kebang (Bauchi state) – 18:09.08secs

100m W :
1) P. Okoro (Edo) – 14.74secs
 2) Rosemary Nwodo (Olympian club) – 15.13
 3) P. Uzokorie (Edo) – 15.49

Pole Vault (Women):
 1) Victoria Idodo (Edo) – 2.80m
  2) Esther Dosu  (Mountainer) – 2.70

Javeline (Men):
1) James Ayewoh (Jigawa state) – 63.77m
 2) Kenechukwu Ezefor Enugu 63.67
 3)Chet Iyke   (Delta) 59.70m

Long Jump (men):
 1) Bola Lawal (Gateway Club) – 48.74m
 2) John Mammon (Adamawa st.) – 49.08m
 3) Usieta Hope (Mountainer) – 49.84m

Shot Put (Men):
1) Chima Ugwu (FB) – 16.82M
 2) Victor Omoigberole (Ed) – 15.85m
  3)  Ejiofor Kenechukwu (En) – 15.75m