Canada-based sprinter Usheoritse Itsekiri secured an impressive victory at the 2023 Nigeria Trials in Benin, clinching the men’s 100m title and solidifying his position as Nigeria’s fastest man for the year.
Itsekiri, who had arrived in the country with an unbeaten record, showcased his exceptional speed and athleticism to reclaim the national championship he last won in 2019.
Throughout the event, Itsekiri displayed remarkable form, recording the fastest time of 10.12s across all semifinal heats, thereby setting high expectations for the final race.
In the highly anticipated showdown, he blazed through the track, matching his personal best (PB) time of 10.02s and securing a resounding victory.
His performance far surpassed his competitors, with Seye Ogunlewe (10.12s) and Alaba Akintola (10.12s) finishing far behind. Defending champion Favour Ashe settled for fourth place with a time of 10.13s.
While Itsekiri fell short of surpassing the automatic qualifying standard of 10.00s for the World Championships, he remains determined to participate in more competitions and improve his time before the qualifying window closes.
With his exceptional talent and dedication, Itsekiri aims to surpass this benchmark and make a lasting impact in the sprinting world.
