By Flinster Austin
Published on 2024-02-17 02:17:37
With a personal best of 9.92 seconds in the 100m and 20.50 seconds in the 200m, Seun Ogunkoya was a promising sprinter on the cusp of global success in 1998. Unfortunately, injuries halted his career, but he has since dedicated himself to mentoring young athletes in his home of Akure, Ondo State. Consider Ekanem, an up-and-coming sprinter, is one of the young talents under his tutelage and has been making waves in the Nigerian athletics scene.
Ekanem’s journey to success has been characterized by determination and the guidance of Ogunkoya. Before their paths crossed, Ekanem was struggling to find his footing in athletics. However, fate brought him to Ogunkoya, and the rest, as they say, is history. Ekanem’s standout moment came when he ran a world-leading time of 10.10 seconds at the Dynamics Athletics meet in Lagos in January of this year. This accomplishment has captured the attention of Nigerian athletics enthusiasts and has positioned Ekanem as a contender for the Africa Games in Ghana and potentially the Olympics Games in Paris, France.
In an interview with mainlandmetronews.com, Ogunkoya shared the story of how he became Ekanem’s mentor. Ekanem expressed his desire to emulate Ogunkoya’s success and set his sights on running a sub-10-second 100m. Swayed by Ekanem’s determination, Ogunkoya took him under his wing, emphasizing the importance of discipline and adherence to their training program. Under Ogunkoya’s guidance, Ekanem has made significant progress, improving his times from 10.90 seconds and 10.70 seconds to consistently running between 10.02 and 10.03 seconds. While Ekanem encountered distractions at the 2022 National Sports Festival in Asaba, Delta State, Ogunkoya remains confident in Ekanem’s potential, believing that his best performances are yet to come.
Reflecting on Ekanem’s world-leading time of 10.10 seconds, Ogunkoya expressed that he was not surprised by the achievement and believes Ekanem is capable of even more impressive performances in the future. With unwavering confidence in Ekanem’s abilities, Ogunkoya predicts that the young sprinter’s future holds numerous accolades and accolades.
Ogunkoya has been instrumental in transforming Ekanem from an aspiring sprinter into a formidable force in Nigerian athletics. Their partnership serves as a testament to the power of mentorship and the potential for greatness when talented individuals receive the right guidance and support. As Ekanem continues to make strides in his career, he does so with the backing of a mentor who believes he has the potential to rule the world with his exceptional speed and talent.
