Lagos – Oluwaseun Olamide of the Next Level Club, Lagos, the 2,000 steeplechase female champion at the third Dr D.K Olukoya U-18 Athletics Championships, says she won through training with used tyres.

Olamide, 15, won the newly-introduced event into the championship this year at 7:40:75.

She beat Ratkan James of High Club to the second place at 7:42:87 and Lewechi Madubuezi, of Abia to the third place at 7:46:95.

The champion told NAN on Saturday at the end of the three-day championship in Lagos that her coach mandated them to train with used tyres in the absence of proper facilities.

Olamide, who expressed happiness over her victory, attributed her success to hard work, training and her coach.

“Our coach made us practice the steeplechase event with tyres, we improvised because we did not have the actual facility for training to be used.

“I am happy because my victory at the championship was manifested through our hard work and training,’’ she said.

She pledged her continued rise, adding that she hoped to represent the country at international meets soon.

Olamide expressed her gratitude to the organisers for introducing the steeplechase female event in the annual championship which she said had brought her to limelight.

Navy Commodore Omatseye Nesiama, the Technical Director of the Athletic Federation of Nigeria (AFN), told NAN that the federation introduced the event because it would feature in maiden Africa Youth Athletics Championship.

Nesiama said Nigeria would host the championship scheduled for Warri, Delta from March 27 to April 3.

The director said he was happy that talents were discovered at the newly-introduced event.

According to Nesiama, Olamide will definitely be among the 80 athletes that will be invited for camping on March 12 at the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), Rivers.

NAN reports that the 3,000m male steeplechase event was won by Sanusi Saka of Nextlevel Club at 10:13:37, while Olaoluwa Adeyemi of Osun came second at 10:15:35 and Toma Korbe of High Club, third at 10:16:58.

The competition was held from March 7 to March 9 at the Yaba College of Technology, (YABATECH), Lagos.