The 3rd Cross River State Primary/Secondary Schools Track and Field Championship began yesterday at the U.J Esuene Stadium Calabar with over 1000 kids from all the local governments in the State participating.

The five-day event was started in 2009 with the aim of producing quality athletes that will represent Cross River State and Nigerian in local and international meets. Some of the athletes discovered in previous meets represented Cross River at the last National Sports Festival in Port Harcourt.

“This year we are hoping to see more talents discovered. Already some of the athletes are making impact in the local scene.

“For instance at the last National Sports Festival in Port Harcourt our athletes made a good showing in the sprints and relays. And they are just under-17. We are continuously discovering and training young athletes with this programme,” stated former 400m world record holder Lee Evans.

Nku to hit Calabar for Athletics Championships

Former Nigeria sprints champion and reigning All Africa Games 100m record holder at 11.03 seconds, Mercy Nku has hailed the giant strides Cross River state governor,senator Liyel Imoke has taken in the area of sports development in the state.
Nku,unarguably the greatest track and field athlete Cross River state has ever produced is thrilled that senator Imoke has not only made Cross River state the destination of sort for sports in Nigeria but also by his sports development programme which is hinged on the return to school sports where education and sports can be combined to produce truly great and responsible champions.

’’There is no denying the fact that my governor (Senator Imoke) has re-awakened interest in sports in Cross River state and the impact his visionary intervention will have on the society and the economy will be ernormous.He is making use of sport and pyhsical activity opportunities for the development of the state in particular and Nigeria in general’’,says Nku who is on record as the second Nigerian nay African woman to run in the finals of the 100m event at the prestigious IAAF World Championships.