Stars of the future are discovered as the South East Under-16 Athletics Championships come to an end in Abia

The 4th edition of the South East Under 16 Athletics Championship hosted by Abia State ended in Umuahia with the discovery of new young athletes.

Organized by the CLIMM Athletics Foundation, the athletics championship included men’s and women’s categories in races such as 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m and relay. Other events include discus throw, shot put, long jump and javelin. Participating states include Anambra, Enugu, Imo, host nation Abia and the Nigerian Army Command College.

Speaking at the Umuahia district stadium on Saturday, two members of CLIMM Athletics Foundation, Innocent Iheme and Lee Okorafor, said the championship aims to discover future world champions for the South East and Nigeria.

Okorafor lamented that the South East, which produces great international athletes for the country, has seen a decline in the industry in the last few years, but said the discovery of new raw talents through the ongoing South East Athletics competitions will bring back the former success. The top flight region of athletics.

He also said the group was using Under-16 athletics competitions to prevent young people in the South East from becoming involved in crime and other deviant behaviour.

Abia State Director of Sports, Obioma George, while thanking the group for awarding the hosting rights to Abia State, said the spiked boots and other equipment donated by former Nigerian international athletes to the Abia State Sports Council will propel Abia athletes to more victories. .

Other winners included Iyioko Paschal of Enugu State who won gold medals in discus and shot put, while Dike Honesty of Abia State won gold in the 800 meters race by running 2.16 minutes.