SamKay Athletics Academy Opens In bayelsa state
History has been made in Bayelsa with the launch of SamKay Athletics Academy in the state capital, Yenagoa. The purpose of this academy is to discover and nurture young athletes in track and field events to stardom.
At the event held in the main bowl of the Samson Siasia Sports Stadium, over 100 athletes from Secondary Schools across Bayelsa State participated in four events of 100 metres boys and girls and the 4 by 100 metres relays.
The founder and chairman of SamKay Athletics Academy of Nigeria, Dr. Samuel Kolawole Oredipe, said the academy would complement efforts of the State Government to boost sports development.
Dr Oredipe, a former quarter miler and Director New Media to Bayelsa State Governor, said a technical team from the Academy would scout for young and promising athletes and would be provided quality training and competition exposures.
He stated that his driving force for the project remains his passion for track and field events and to give back to the sports that gave him the platform to participate at two NUGA Games while in the University.
The chairman of the occasion and a former athlete in the old Rivers State, Honourable Justice Daniel Ayah, who is the President, Customary Court of Appeal, Bayelsa State said the academy would serve as a veritable ground for raw and budding talents to be discovered and called for more partnership to achieve the set goals.
At the athletics meet, Erite Perfect, an SS3 student at the Ijaw National Academy, Kaiama, emerged as the fastest male, after winning the 100meters in 11.20s, with Bamote Gowon, also an SS3 student at the Group Model Secondary School, Ekeremor, finishing in second place in 11.49s, while Moses Amarala, an SS3 student, Community Comprehensive Secondary School, Elebele, came third in 11.62s.
In the female category, an SS2 student, Martha Jacob of St Jude Girls Secondary School proved to be the fastest amongst her counterparts as she ran 13.44s to clinch gold, Rejoice Josiah, SS3 student at the Ijaw National Academy won silver in 13.57s while Victory Nwaorie, SS2 student at Government Secondary School, Amassoma, finished third to take the bronze medal in 14.01s.
In the 4×100 meter relay boys, Comprehensive Secondary School, Elebele, won gold in 46.73s, Group Model Secondary School, Ekeremor finished second with 46.90s, while Ijaw National Academy, Kaiama, claimed bronze in 47.22s.
In the female category, Community Comprehensive Secondary School, Elebele breast the tape in 56.06s to clinch gold, St. Judes Girls Secondary School came second in 55.23s to win bronze, while Ijaw National Academy, Kaiama, clinched bronze medal in 47.22s.
Favour Friday, an SS3 Community Secondary School Elebele student, Erite Perfect, an SS3 student at the Ijaw National Academy, Kaiama, and Martha Jacob of St. Jude Girls Secondary School, who all emerged winners in the 4×100 meters relay girls, 100m boys and 100m girls respectively, said they were proud winning gold, and expressed hope of building a career in athletics.
SUN/Jacinta A
