By Ikenna Nwokedi
Austica Memorial College Nanka has continued to sing the praises of their athletics coach Akachukwu Igwebuike.
The school made their way into history book of athletics in Anambra state as 12 of her athletes made the podium finish winning 3 Gold, 4 Silver and 5 Bronze medals at the recently concluded maiden edition of the Anambra State All Secondary School Athletics Championship held at the Awka City Stadium.
The school could not have achieved this without the sports administrative and coaching prowess of Aguata-born Athletics Coach Solomon Akachukwu Igwebuike.
Coach Igwebuike, a graduate of Accounting from the University of Port Harcourt during his active days represented Nigeria at the 1st Youth Olympic Games hosted by Singapore in 2010 winning two Gold medals.
Igwebuike, whose flair and passion for the game also saw him captaining the Nigerian U-16 football team during the West Africa four national football tournament co-hosted by Cote D’Ivoire and Togo in 2007/08.
In a blistering career spanning over 10 years, Igwebuike won a total of 26 medals for the state and it is on record that he won the first National Gold medal in 2006 during the First Emergency Games in Abuja.
Upon retiring from active sports, Coach Akachukwu Igwebuike obtained his certification as a World Athletics and Olympic certified Coach from the International Amateur Athletics Federation.
The budding sports manager is also attached to the success stories of the Anambra State Sports Development Commission (ANSSDC).
Austica Memorial College Nanka is a Catholic missionary school owned and administered by the Diocesan Bishop, His Eminence Peter Ebere Cardinal Okpaleke and Catholic Charismatic Renewal Movement of Nigeria, Ekwulobia Diocese.
Rev. Fr. Obiora A. Okeke is the Manager and Principal of the college domiciled in Nanka, Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State.
*Austica Memorial College Nanka results at the maiden edition of the Anambra State All Secondary School Athletics Championship as highlighted below:*
*GOLD MEDALS*
800metres (Senior Boys) – Bonaventure Chijioke
Triple Jump (Senior Boys) – Victor Chinyere
800metres (Junior Boys) – Sylvester Okwudili
*SILVER MEDALS*
100metres (Junior Boys) – John-Christus Nwodo
400metres (Senior Boys) – Bonaventure Chijioke
Long Jump (Junior Boys) – Valerian Ezefosie
200metres (Senior Boys) – Ebeagwu Charles
*BRONZE MEDALS*
100metres (Junior Boys) – Valerian Ezefosie
Long Jump (Junior Boys) – Collins Orji
800metres (Senior Boys) – Charles Nwaji
400metres (Junior Boys) – Sylvester Okwudili
100metres (Senior Boys) – Charles Ebeagwu