The 5th edition of the CLIMM U-16 South-East Track and Field Championship ended in Umuahia Abia State on Saturday. The event which attracted athletes from the states of the southeast went off with record attendance and participation.
The event organized by retired athletes of southeast origin including Lee Okoroafo, a retired decathlete and member of the Royal British Army, alongside Olympic gold medal winner at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, Clement Chukwu, and others, is targeted at reviving the glory days of athletics in the southeast particularly and in Nigeria in general.
Having started at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium Enugu in 2021, the last three editions have been hosted in Umuahia due to an understanding with the Abia State government.
On the tracks, Mary Chioma Ede, of Anambra State dusted all comers to emerge the best female athlete at the championship with 2 gold, one silver, and one bronze medal. In the male category, 15 year old Prince Nwachukwu, an athlete sponsored by the organizers’ CLIMM Athletics Club, emerged the best overall male participant, with 2 gold, and one silver medal.
Athletes received fifteen thousand Naira for a bronze medal, twenty thousand Naira for silver, and twenty five thousand Naira for gold. The best six athletes in both the male and female categories were awarded special monetary rewards at a grand gala organized at the end of the event to fete the athletes.
Scholarships were also awarded to outstanding performers in selected events. With special awards and recognitions going to Dr. Alex Oti, the Abia State governor, and CC J Nnennaya Alexander, the sector commander FRSC, Asaba, Delta State, for their support.
At the end of the event, Abia State topped the medal table with 10 gold, 10 silver, and 7 bronze medals to win the fifth edition. Anambra State was in second place with 7 gold, 9 silver, and 7 bronze medals, with Imo State which won the 2024 edition in third place, with 2 gold, 2 silver, and 7 bronze medals. For the third edition running, Ebonyi State was not represented by any athletes, as a result of a disagreement between the Ebonyi State sports council and the organizers since the 2nd edition. Young athletes from the state have therefore been missing out.
Over 500 athletes and 100 officials took part in the meet strictly bankrolled from the pockets of the retired athletes. According to them, the venue for the next edition is yet to be decided, as Anambra and Imo States, are currently jostling for the hosting rights to the event which has been tentatively scheduled for October next year.
