Champions Emerge At Cadbury Bournvita Duathlon Championships

Engr. Afolabi Salami (left) presenting  certificate to one of the winners in the cadet category during the closing ceremony of Cadbury Bournvita Duathlon Championship at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos

Rivers State’s John Preye Dede and Happiness Okafor from Delta have emerged champions in the senior men and woman categories of the second edition of  Cadbury Bournvita Duathlon Championships, which took place at the National Stadium, Lagos on Saturday.

Dede, who finished in a time of 1:16:05.11sec, went home with a cash prize of N70, 000, a gold medal and certificate. Okafor, who also finished in a time of 1.42:17.11 sec, got a cash prize of N70, 000 as well as gold medal and certificate.

Also in the men category, Sunday Paul from Ever Ready Club finished second in a time of 1:16:18:99sec. He got N50, 000, a silver medal and a certificate. Third-placed Wale Ibrahim also got N30, 00 for his efforts as well as a bronze medal and certificate.

In the women’s category, Chioma Nkem finished second in a time of 1:46:27:26 and also got N50, 000, a silver medal a certificate while Kate Oyewole finished third in a time of 1:47:09:88sec and got N30, 000, a bronze medal and a certificate.

In the junior boys category, Akinola Oluwatobi of Bright Future Club finished first, Ajigboye Ezekiel of Pajamack Club came second while Ayomide Ogunsuyi finished third. In the Junior girls category, Sofoluwe Olabisi of Bright Future came first, Agunbiade Boluwatife of God Bless You Club finished second while Ogunade Olawunmi of Command Day Secondary School came third.

In the cadet boys, Theophilus Okolo from St Saviour School Ikoyi finished first, Odusanya Pamilerin also from St Saviour School, Ikoyi finshed second, while Babatunde Ramadan of Go Riders Club came third. Also in the Cadet Girls, Yimika Akerele and Arife Benson both from St Saviour School finished first and second respectively, while Olanrele Olamide finished third.

International Triathlon Union (ITU) instructor, Retief Freysen from South Africa, who conducted a training course in Nigeria, commended the participants for their doggedness and urged them to strive to become better.

He also called on the organisers, the Nigeria Triathlon Union (NTU) to continue to propagate triathlon in Nigeria.