February 18, (THEWILL) – Ekanem can be Nigeria’s own Usain Bolt according to former national sprint champion Seun Ogunkoya, who has been coaching the teenage phenom. The 19-year-old Ekanem burst onto the scene last month by clocking 10\10 seconds in the 100m – the fastest time run so far this year.
Under Ogunkoya’s tutelage, Ekanem has rapidly shed seconds off his personal best. Ekanem initially approached Ogunkoya seeking to get under 10 seconds quickly, but the veteran warned achieving such feats takes dedication and patience. Their training regime has paid dividends, with Ekanem chopping almost a second off his previous 100m times in a matter of months.
At January’s Dynamics Athletics meet where he stunned onlookers with his blistering run, Ekanem served notice he could be Nigeria’s most exciting sprinting prospect since the heyday of former African 100m champion Ogunkoya himself. In an interview with Mainland Metro News, Ogunkoya said Ekanem’s rapid improvement did not surprise him at all. “I told him that 10.10 seconds was not even his limit. He can do much more than that. I’m sure his legs will do more of the talking,” Ogunkoya stated.
While injury cut short Ogunkoya’s own career before he could dominate globally, he now looks to have found his true purpose in unlocking Ekanem’s potential. After flattering to deceive at the secondary school level, the young sprinter has flourished under his accomplished new coach.
With the African Games in Ghana looming this year, Ekanem has set his sights on a medal. The 2024 Olympics also looks like a realistic target for Nigeria’s burgeoning new track star. As Ekanem continues his meteoric rise, credit must go to Ogunkoya for developing fresh sprint talent – a decade after his own promising career was thwarted.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
