Yewa, Urhobo College dominate GCU 2019 Relays

In a show of style and class, both Yewa Egbado College, Ilaro and Urhobo College Effurun swept the stakes and dominated the podium at the 2019 Government College Ughelli GCU Relays, which ended in Ughelli, Delta State at the weekend.

Led by the fleet-footed Sunday Akintan, who won the Boys 100m in 10.12 seconds, Yewa Egbado College Ilaro picked the Boys 4x100m and 4x400m titles in schoolboys record time.

Afterwards, the SS3 student, who couldn’t conceal his excitement, disclosed that winning the GCU Relays’ sprint was one of the best accomplishments of his romance with athletics.

“I am so happy at winning this race,” he said. “Before now, I was part of the Commonwealth Trials held at the Ozoro Polytechnic in 2018, but finished fifth to miss out on selection. But then, our coach also took us to Abidjan for Trials. This is my first time of running on modern tartan track in a secondary school premises.”

Yewa Egbado College Ilaro also picked the Girls 4x400m race.

The Girls honour went to Praise Ofoku of Urhobo College Effurun, who not only picked the 100m and 200m titles, but powered her school to win the 4x100m relay.

Afiesere Grammar School that dominated last year’s event could only pick the Boys 200m title, leaving Yewa and Urhobo College to dominate and monopolise the honours in all the races.

President General World Wide of the GCUOBA, Arc. Ovo Charles Majoroh promptly redeemed his cash/scholarship pledge to both Sunday Akintan (Yewa Egbado College Ilaro) and Praise Ofoku (Urhobo College Effurun).

Ex-Olympian, Orode Moses Oyiki, who flew in from Ireland for the Meet, was full of praises for the quality of the races and the winning athletes, especially the 100m boys.

“The returned times are quite impressive, coupled with their running techniques,” he said.

Top dignitaries at the 2019 GCU Relays included representatives of SDPC, DSSC, NDDC, Ancient Mariners – Chief Miller Uloho, Chief Simeon Efenudu, Dr. Richard Obiuwevbi and Old Boys Chief Albert Akpomudje (SAN), Evang. Roy Odoko, Engr. Donatus Umukoro, Robert Oviri.

Technical committee boss, Sir Emmanuel Elili, who supervised the Meet, equally expressed his fulfillment at the huge attendance, quality of officiating as well as the times achieved at the GCU Relays 2nd edition.