Favour Ashe blazes to Personal Best as Commonwealth Games trial end in style
Favour Ashe delivered the performance of the championships on the final day of the 2026 Commonwealth Games National Trials, storming to a personal best of 9.93 seconds to claim the men's 100m title at the Yaba College of Technology Sports Complex in Lagos.
The Delta State sprinter had already sent a warning to his rivals in the semi-finals, where he clocked a wind-assisted 9.97 seconds. He returned for the final and went even quicker, producing a legal 9.93s to shave one hundredth of a second off the previous personal best of 9.94s he recorded in the United States in 2024.
Ashe spearheaded a thrilling race that saw several athletes achieve career-best performances. Adekalu Fakorede dipped under the 10-second barrier for the first time with a personal best of 9.98s to finish second, while reigning National Sports Festival champion Chidera Ezeakor also impressed with a lifetime best of 10.03s in third place.
The victory was particularly emotional for Ashe, who revealed the difficult journey that led to his return to the top of Nigerian sprinting.
The 22-year-old disclosed that visa challenges prevented him from returning to the United States, disrupting his training programme and forcing him to seek a fresh start elsewhere.
"These past years have been tough. I didn't get my visa back to the US. The fans didn't know that. I was in Nigeria training," Ashe said after the race.
"Because of the pressure, I went to Qatar, not because of the money. I went to Qatar because I just wanted to feel myself again. This year, the AFN President, Tonobok Okowa, called me to come back to Nigeria. I knew if I came back, I would be more disciplined, so I'm happy to get the win."
In the women's 400m, seasoned campaigner Patience Okon-George turned back the clock with a commanding run of 51.85s to secure the national title. The experienced quarter-miler held off the challenge of United States-based Taiwo Kudoro, who ran a personal best of 52.30s for second place, while Faith Ezechukwu also posted a personal best of 53.12s to finish third.
The men's 400m produced another new national champion as former US collegiate athlete Tyler Johnson claimed victory in 45.75s. Victory Achakpoekiri followed closely behind in 45.91s, while veteran Emmanuel Ojeli settled for third in 45.94s in one of the most competitive races of the day.
The three-day trials concluded with titles also decided in the men's and women's 200m, men's 110m hurdles, women's 100m hurdles and several field events as selectors put the finishing touches on Nigeria's squad for the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Nigeria's athletics team for Glasgow is expected to be announced in the coming days ahead of the Games, which will be held in Scotland from July 23 to August 2.
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