By Maxwell Kumoye
Seventeen-year-old Nigerian quarter-miler Iyanuoluwa Aderemi produced a remarkable performance at the just concluded third edition of the Dynamic Athletics Meet 2026, showing just how rapidly she has developed in less than two months.
Competing at the Yaba Tech Sports Complex in Lagos on Saturday, August 15, Aderemi clocked an impressive 50.95 seconds to win the women’s 400m heat, comfortably lowering her previous personal best of 51.86 seconds, which she set at the National Trials on 21st June.
The improvement of 0.91 seconds in less than two months has marked a significant breakthrough for the young athlete and underlined her rapid progression in the event.
Her latest performance also caught the attention of Second Vice President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Akuchukwu Aghazu, who was full of admiration for the teenager’s improvement.
“This would have won gold in Oregon, almost a second off her time in three months? Wow,” Aghazu said.
Aderemi was followed home by Esther Peter Okon, who finished in 51.52 seconds, while Onyinyechi Success Onu took third in 54.31.
Oluchi Ezeh was fourth in 55.11, with Joseph Joy Ayomide fifth in 55.57. Ayi Blessing Sekibo finished sixth in 55.79, while Ufuoma Merit was seventh in 57.63. Faith Ezechukwu did not start.
At 16 years old, at the 2019 African Games, Favour Ofili lowered her time from 52.28s recorded in April of the same year in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire to 51.68s in Rabat, Morocco in August 2019.
The Dynamic Athletics Meet has also attracted considerable support from former athletes and sports stakeholders, with financial incentives attached to several events.
Former Nigerian sprinter Olusoji Fasuba provided ₦200,000 for the 100m, while Endurance Ojokolo also offered ₦200,000.
In the 400m, Princess Mabel Madojiemu provided ₦200,000, while former Olympic medallist Enefiok Udo-Obong personally put up ₦500,000 each for the male and female winners, subject to performance conditions.
The male winner must run 45.50 seconds or faster, while the female winner must record 50.80 seconds or faster to qualify for the prize. The money is being provided personally by Udo-Obong and is not held by Dynamic Athletics.
The 800m events received ₦200,000 from former athlete and Caligeo Suites CEO, Gbolahan Fatuga, to be shared equally between the men’s and women’s races.
Winners in each gender category receive ₦50,000, second place ₦30,000 and third place ₦20,000.
Coach Felix Onoriode also provided ₦40,000 for the U-11 and U-15 100m winners, with ₦10,000 allocated to each of the four winning categories.
Caligeo Suites’ Boss Gbolahan Fatuga believes the financial incentives have added extra motivation to the athletes competed at the meet.
Reacting to Aderemi’s performance, he said: “Perhaps inspired by 1 million that another former quarter-miler had on the table for sub 50… She was so close.”
Aderemi’s progression from 51.86 seconds in June to 50.95 seconds on August 15 represents an extraordinary improvement in a very short period.
The teenager has taken nearly a full second off her personal best in less than two months, moving into the 50-second range and signalling that she could become an important figure in Nigeria’s future 400m programme.
For Aderemi, the Dynamic Athletics Meet was more than just another race. It was a clear demonstration of her rapid development and a reminder of the enormous potential within Nigeria’s emerging generation of quarter-milers.
