The final day of the 2024 Athletics Federation of Nigeria National Trials produced controversy when University of Michigan athlete Dubem Amene won the men’s 400-meter championship and Esther Joseph won the women’s 400-meter final in a close race.
The first women’s final to excite the audience was Joseph, the silver medallist from the African Games, who won her first national title with a time of 51.70 seconds. She fended off a late push from Imaobong Nse-Uko (third) in a season-best 52.04s and Patience Okon-George (second, 51.76s).
Joseph underlined why her stock has been rising in the 400m, by beating a very strong field which also had Omolara Ogunmakinju.
Okon-George was the favourite to claim the title, having run the fastest time in the heats on Day 1, but Joseph came up with a strong finish on the outside lane.
