HOST, Cross River State, yesterday confirmed its superiority in theathletics event with four gold medals in some of the competitions concluded at the on-going National School Sports Festivaltagged Calabar 2011.The state got her first gold medal through Elizabeth Ipuele, who beat Team Kaduna's Blessing Michael to thetape in the senior girls' 3000 metres event.She returned at a time of 10.39.09 seconds, while Michael ran 10.43.09 seconds to pick silver, just as the hosts picked the bronze medal through Blessing Ayang, who breasted the tape in 10.47.09 seconds.In the senior boys' shot put event, Cross River's Melody Bassey took the gold medal with a throw of 11.18 metres, leaving hiscompatriot, Emma Akpoke, with the silver (9. 83 metres), with the bronze going to Team Lagos' Fiedjor Israel (9.35 metres).In the junior boys and girls 800 metres, Cross River also swept the gold and silver medals with Godwin Athgheffon claiming gold in the boys' event, while Nkiru Iroha won gold in the girls' cadre.An excited Athgheffon told The Guardian after his race that he was happy winning the gold for the state.He said: 'I will remain grateful to our coaches for training us well for this championship because we really worked hard for this tournament. I look forward to another gold medal in the 1500 metres as well.'The 11-year-old Iroha admitted that she was scared when she saw her colleagues on track even though she was confident she would not disappoint her coaches and the state.'When we lined up on the track my heart was beating fast because it was my first major competition. But with the kind oftraining we had been exposed to by our team of coaches, I knew I would have my way. I attribute the success to training and God, who crowned my efforts with this gold medal.'She added that she was looking forward to winning more medals in the 4X100 and 4X400 relay races.In the boxing event, Lagos and Ogun States tied in the medals' haul with both teams winning three gold, one silver and one bronze medals apiece.Cross River also registered its presence on the medal table with two gold, three silver and two bronze medals.Other states on the medal table include Anambra, with two silver and one bronze medals, Kwara one silver and one bronze medals, while Ebonyi settled for one bronzemedal.Lagos' gold medalists, Taiwo Abiodun and Idowu Agbaje, believe the kind of training they were exposed to before the competition helped them to excel in Calabar, while Cross River's gold medalist in the boys' 49kg, Nsa Asuquo, blamed his team's below par performance on inexperience.'I think we lack good blocking technique and this really affected us. But I was able to pick up in the ring and this gave me an edge in my fight.'I thank God that I achieve my dream of gold medal,' he said.
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