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The heavy downpour in Benin City, yesterday, notwithstanding, athletics lovers from different parts of the city thronged the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium to catch a glimpse of the World champion, Tobiloba Amusan, silver medalist at the last edition, Ese Brume and other foreign-based athletes who just arrived for the National Trials.
The arrival of Amusan, Brume and others, including Udodi Onwuzurike, took the number of the foreign-based athletes to 16 yesterday.
Amusan, who won the 100m hurdler at the Diamond League in Sweden on Sunday night, arrived in Benin City at about 11am yesterday, but the heavy rain delayed her appearance at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.
The news of her arrival had spread around the town. At about 4pm, Amusan, Brume and other foreign-based athletes took to the tracks of Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, with the fans in their hundreds applauding from the stands.
Over 160 athletes, including some home-based, those from the United States and some European countries will be on parade at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium for the National Trials to select the Nigerian team for the 19th World Athletics Championship holding in Budapest.
The National Trials will end on July 7.
Last year, the same Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium was the venue for the National Trials, where athletes for both the World Championships in Oregon, and the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, were picked.
Meanwhile, the chairman of the Organising Committee, Yusuf Alli has assured that the government and people of Edo State would give the visiting athletes and officials the best treatment throughout the National Trials.
