BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
The city of Abeokuta, capital of Ogun State in southwestern Nigeria, has come alive as it plays host to the African U18 and U20 Athletics Championships, which officially kicked off on Wednesday, July 16.
With hundreds of young athletes from across the continent competing, the five-day championship promises to be a showcase of Africa’s rising stars in track and field.
The opening day featured a flurry of events, including finals in the U18 men’s high jump and U18 women’s triple jump, alongside heats in the 100 metres across U18 and U20 male and female categories.
The evening concluded with the U20 women’s 3000 metres and the U20 men’s 10,000 metres finals.
Day Two (July 17) began with early morning action in the men’s U20 decathlon and sprint hurdles. The session also included the 100m semifinals in all four major divisions—U18 and U20, male and female.
In the afternoon, fans witnessed finals in the U18 women’s discus, U20 men’s shot put, and U20 women’s 1500m, as well as high jump, triple jump, steeplechase, and the highly anticipated 100m finals. The U20 mixed 4x400m relay closed out the day with excitement.
Day Three (July 18) featured more medal opportunities, with the U18 men’s hammer throw and 400m finals for both U18 boys and girls during the morning session. Decathlon and heptathlon events also progressed steadily.
The afternoon session included U18 women’s long jump, triple jump, 100m hurdles finals, and 200m sprint semifinals.
Day Four (July 19)Â saw the endurance athletes take the spotlight with the 10,000m race walk finals for both U18 and U20 men in the morning.
In the afternoon, there were finals in the 400m hurdles, steeplechase, shot put, pole vault, and 200m sprints.
The evening wrapped up with thrilling relays, including the medley and 4x100m finals for U20 men and women.
Final Day (July 20)Â is set to deliver a fitting climax to the championships. Morning events include the 10,000m and 5,000m walks for U20 and U18 women, as well as key heptathlon and octathlon events.
The evening will bring finals in the 200m, 800m, long jump, javelin, discus, hammer throw, and the 4x400m relays for both men and women.
With more than 100 events scheduled, the African U18 and U20 Championships in Abeokuta provide a vital platform for emerging athletes to shine on the continental stage.
The competition also serves as a stepping stone toward future global championships, including the World Juniors and the Olympic Games.
Organizers have indicated that the event timetable may be adjusted depending on the number of participants and prevailing local conditions.
Nonetheless, Abeokuta is set to witness a festival of speed, strength, and stamina as Africa’s future athletics stars battle for continental glory.
