African 400m women record holder, Falilat Ogunkoya yesterday predicted a boom for Nigeria in the quarter-mile discipline as the two-day meet packaged the former Nigerian international comes to an end today at the Dipo Dina Stadium in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State.

Ogunkoya, who won a 400m bronze and a silver in the women 4x400m at the Atlanta’96 Olympics Games stated that she was highly impressed with the turn out of athletes for the competition, meant to discover fresh and young 400m runners from the grassroots.

“We have over a 1000 athletes competing here and I am very impressed with the turn out. In the opening day, I saw a couple of kids who can to make us proud in the nearest future if we give them good coaches,” said the AFN board member.

During her time on the tracks Nigeria 400m men and women were vibrant. In the women category there were greats like Ogunkoya, Charity Opara, Fatima Yusuf and Bisi Afolabi all who made the National Championships looked like an African championships final, because these women were the best in the continent at that time.

On her retirement from the track  and return to Nigeria from the USA, Ogunkoya had floated the competition, but after one edition in 2007,  nothing was heard again. However, she stated that this time around, she will strive to make the competition a yearly affair.

“We all know the importance of grassroots competitions. And we will do everything possible to make it a year affair.

“And I must acknowledge the contributions of FCMB, Solid Works, Lacasera and the Ogun State government for making it possible for us to hold it this year. Hopeful they will be there for us next year when we come calling.”