Competition starved junior athletes had their fill as the Pastor D.K Olukoya junior athletics championships rounded off on Thursday at the Yaba College of Technology sports ground in Lagos.

Though the end of term schools’ exams contributed to the low participation by students, the few that braved the odd gave athletics officials hope that there was still a talent base in Nigeria and it was left for the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, AFN to do follow ups.

It was an interesting spectacle watching the kids show their prowess. And according to Jide Josiah, an AFN board member in charge of grassroots development, the Championships have been a revelation.

“The competition was quite exciting with the quality of races recorded here. Most of the athletes who competed were under the age category and they proved their worth.

“Take the 400m for example where Ololade Durojaiye emerged champion, he is under 16 yet he beat boys under-18. With good handling, that boy will go places,” said Josiah.

Athletes who shone brightest were Harry Chukwudike of Abia State and Wisdom Isokan who won sprint doubles in the men and women category.

Chukwudike took the boys 100m with a time of 10.61 seconds, leaving Rotimi Adebayo of Buka Tigers Club and Delta State’s Mamus Emuobonive scrambling for silver and bronze with 10.88 and 10.94 seconds respectively. Chukwudike took the 200m at 21.97 seconds while Adebayo placed second with 21.99 and Demola Adeniji was third with 22.19 seconds.

Isokan cleaned out the women in 11.94 seconds with Busola Adewale returned 12.36 seconds. Bidemi Ogunmola was third with 12.37. Isokan clocked 24. 61 in the girls 200m, she was in a class of her own as her fellow competitors, Busola Adewale and Rukayat Aweda reached the finish line at 25. 61, 25.67seconds respectively.

“It was a good outing no doubt. But the question is what next?

“There has to be higher competitions like the Under-20 where these boys and girls could graduate into. During our days it was competitions like these that produced quality athletes.

Then the Jamaicans used to ask us how did we get it right, now the reverse is the case,” said former sprinter, Gabriel Okon.

The competition was named after the Mountain of Fire overseer, but there was no presence of the ministry at the venue. It was gathered that the AFN president Solomon Ogba provided the funding that drove the championships.

“But at least there could have been some show of presence by the man who the championships was named after. This would have gone a long way to encourage the athletes and officials,” said an athletics official.