Ashe storms to 100m title at C’wealth Games trials
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Favour Ashe produced the standout performance on the final day of the 2026 Commonwealth Games National Trials in Lagos on Tuesday, sprinting to a personal best of 9.93 seconds to win the men’s 100m title at the Yaba College of Technology Sports Complex.
The Delta State athlete had earlier signalled his intentions with a wind-assisted 9.97s in the semi-finals before returning to clock a legal 9.93s in the final, improving on the previous personal best of 9.94s he set in the United States in 2024.
Ashe led a high-quality field, with Adekalu Fakorede finishing second in a personal best of 9.98s, while reigning National Sports Festival champion Chidera Ezeakor also achieved a personal best of 10.03s to place third.
Reflecting on his victory, Ashe opened up on the challenges he has faced over the past year, including visa issues that disrupted his training plans abroad.
“These past years have been tough, I didn’t get my visa back to the US. The fans didn’t know of that. I was in Nigeria training,” Ashe said.
“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. So, I had to take that decision because I knew if I come back to Nigeria, I’ll be more disciplined, so I’m happy to get the win.”
Elsewhere, veteran quarter-miler Patience Okon-George rolled back the years to win the women’s 400m title in 51.85s, finishing ahead of US-based Taiwo Kudoro, who set a personal best of 52.30s for second place. Faith Ezechukwu also achieved a personal best of 53.12s to finish third.
Former US collegiate athlete Tyler Johnson claimed his first national title in the men’s 400m, crossing the line in 45.75s. Victory Achakpoekiri followed closely in second with 45.91s, while experienced campaigner Emmanuel Ojeli finished third in 45.94s.
The three-day trials concluded on Tuesday with champions also emerging in the men’s and women’s 200m, the men’s 110m hurdles, women’s 100m hurdles and other events as selectors finalise Nigeria’s athletics team for the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
The Games will take place in Glasgow, Scotland, from July 23 to August 2, with Nigeria expected to name its final athletics contingent in the coming days.
Abiodun, who reports Sports for PUNCH, covers different tiers of the Nigerian football league, the national teams, as well as cricket, in the last six years
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