Prestina Ochonogor soars to long jump victory at Commonwealth Games trials
Prestina Ochonogor delivered a commanding performance to headline the opening day of the 2026 Commonwealth Games National Trials, winning the women’s long jump at the Yabatech Sports Complex in Yaba, Lagos.
Competing in the absence of national record holder Ese Brume, the United States-based jumper leapt 6.57 metres to secure top spot and underline her credentials in one of Nigeria’s most fiercely contested field events.
While Brume’s absence opened the door for others to shine, Ochonogor seized the moment with a composed display that kept the competition at bay and earned her a deserved victory.
The men’s triple jump also produced fireworks as Arena Academy athlete Olaoluwa Akindunbi stole the spotlight with a personal-best leap of 16.08 metres to claim first place. His impressive mark not only secured victory but also signaled his growing potential on the national stage.
On the track, Delta State’s Vivian Obadiah enjoyed a memorable outing in the women’s 5,000 metres, racing to a new personal best of 17:24.85 to take the title in convincing fashion.
The sprint events added further excitement to the opening day, with athletes battling for places in the men’s and women’s 100 metres through the preliminary rounds and heats as the race for Commonwealth Games qualification intensified.
Earlier, Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) President Tonobok Okowa officially declared the trials open, welcoming athletes, coaches and officials to Lagos. He also addressed the one-day postponement that shifted the competition’s start from Saturday to Sunday, apologising for the inconvenience and thanking participants for their understanding.
Okowa encouraged the athletes to compete with determination and assured them of the federation’s commitment to supporting their ambitions.
Also present was the Director General of the National Sports Commission, Bukola Olopade, who praised the quality of performances on display and expressed confidence in the future of Nigerian athletics.
Olopade described the emerging talents competing at the trials as the next generation of stars and commended the AFN for its continued investment in grassroots development.
AFN First Vice-President Abubakar Ladan Zurmi echoed similar sentiments, urging Nigerians to remain patient as the competition unfolds.
According to him, the opening day was only a glimpse of what is to come, with more exciting performances expected over the remaining days of the championships. He also noted that the federation’s decision to postpone the trials was made in consideration of foreign-based athletes affected by travel delays, stressing that the same understanding would have been extended to home-based athletes under similar circumstances.
With several events still to be decided, the trials continue on Monday as Nigeria’s finest athletes chase qualification spots and national glory in Lagos.
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