By Gowon Akpodonor
Organisers of the yearly Government College Ughelli (GCU) Relays have said that their fundamental objective is the development of outstanding secondary school athletes from the inter-collegiate track and field competition to become top stars for the nation.
The 2023 GCU Relays will hold on November 18 in Ughelli, Delta State. The competition is the brainchild of GCU Old Boys Association Worldwide, led by the then PGWW, Prof. Oritsegbemi Omatete, who looked back at the glorious past of school athletics in the 1950s and 60s.
“The Old Western Region had the old athletics competition called the Grier Cup. It was organised in zones A to D, where there was stiff and exciting competition among schools, and from which great athletes emerged,” a statement by the organisers said.
“In furtherance of this cardinal objective of the GCU Relays, the next PGWW, Arch. Charles Majoroh instituted a monetary backed award for both the Victor Ludorum and Victrix Ludorum,” the statement stated.
First to emerge at the inaugural edition was then fleet footed and elegantly built Godson Oghenebrume, who featured and dazzled for Afiesere Secondary School, Ughelli.
Sunday Akitan of Yewa College, Ilaro, Ogun State, dazzled at the second edition, posting a yet to be broken 10.88 seconds in the Boys 100m. Other athletes have since emerged from the domineering Hussey College, Warri and Urhobo College, Effurun, in the last couple of editions, but none with the gait, glitz and glamour of both Godson Brume and Sunday Akitan that have donned the nation’s colours in both the junior and seniors categories of tracks and field event.
Culled from THE GUARDIAN.
