15-year-old Diagbonya Eyes Usain Bolt’s 100 World Record

AT first glance one can dismiss the 15-year-old lad as a dreamer like most of his peers, who follow international sport. But when Osasere Diagbonya begins to glide on the tracks you will be forced to take a second look at the boy.

  Diagbonya won the 100m and 400m gold medals at the second Inter-House sports competition of Strong Towers Academy, but the lad is looking beyond running with lads on sandy lanes. Rather, his ambition is to one day become not only the fastest man on earth, but also confining the record set by the current holder of that title, Usain Bolts, to dust bin. 

  An enthusiastic Diagbonya told The Guardian on Tuesday after winning one of his events that he was determined to go to the highest level of athletics, as well as excel in his academics.

  According to him, “determination, spirit of sportsmanship and of a champion in me is the reason for my success. I even intend to break the Usain Bolts’ record of 9.88 seconds in the 100 meters and I am sure I will get there through determination and support of my parents. I also know how to manage my time so that sport will not affect my studies, because when it is time to read my books, I read and when it is time for sport, I go for sport.” 

  At the school’s meet, Diagbonya won the 400 meters senior boys category, while Temenu Ibukun came tops in the senior girls category. In 400 junior boys, Ebirin Seth took the gold medal and Desola Makinde winning in the junior girl’s category.

  Uche Omodu won the 200 metres senior boy’s race, while Awe Boris came tops in the junior boy’s category, with Sarah Iwuru and Desola Makinde winning the 200 meters senior and junior girls’ respectively.

  Olufeso Busayo won in the boys’ 100 metres junior race, while Sarah Iwuru and Desola Makinde again won in the senior and junior girls’ categories respectively.

  Shuabu Prosper and Amaka Onuoha won the chess and table tennis titles, while in discuss, Olabode Olamiju came tops in the senior girls, with Babajide Gbadamosi won in the senior boys’ category.

  Speaking at the end of the sports fiesta, the Director, Strong Tower Academy, Lekan Owodunni, urged government to encourage the Private institutions as they compliment the efforts of the private schools in bringing the youths, adding the private schools’ should be seen as complimentary to government efforts and not competitive.

  He defined inter house sport competitions as a way of identifying talents and bringing out the potential in the youths to compliment their academic activities.