Nigerian-American track and field athlete, specializing in throwing events Chukwuebuka Enekwechi has etched his name further in the sporting history after winning the gold medal and breaking the national hammer record in the ongoing Delta 2022 National Sports Festival.
Enekwechi, representing Delta State, was a class ahead of other competitors in the hammer throw, as he heaved 67.45m to erase the previous record of 66.76m set by Christian Okoye in March 1986.
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Mostapha Al Gamel of Egypt holds the African record with a distance of 81.27m.
Baba Ibrahim, also of Delta State, threw 46.85m to grab the silver, while Michael Aiyegbeni of Akwa Ibom threw 44.80m to win the bronze medal.
Enekwechi is in contention to win a hat-trick of gold medals when he competes in the short putt and discuss throw.
Meanwhile, a swimmer experienced a blackout midway through the women’s 1,500m race at the National Sports Festival yesterday, causing a significant concern.
Ifiezibe Gagbe, the current winner and national record holder in the competition, almost lost her life if it weren’t for the intervention of lifeguards.
Halfway through the arduous 15-lap 1,500-meter race, Gagbe stopped swimming and began sinking to the bottom of the pool.