16-year-old Dachung thrills Sports Minister, others as Olympics trials end in Benin

The 2024 National Trials organised by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) produced a ‘future champion’ on Tuesday evening as 16-year-old Weng Dachung from Jos, Plateau State, caught the attention of all spectators at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City.

The 5000m race was one of the last events on the closing day of the trials, which the AFN used to pick athletes for both the African Senior Championships holding in Douala, Cameroon, this week and the Paris Olympic Games.

The teenage Dachung was one of the athletes on the track to battle for the top position in the 5000m race, an energy sapping event.

At first, not many spectators noticed the presence of the young runner, but with a lap to go, Dachung began to show the champions stuff in him, racing pass older competitors.

With 300m to the finish line, Dachung increased his speed, forcing the spectators to rise applauding him. As at that time, four senior men were ahead of him, but Dachung surged on, overtaking three in the process.

As he anchored at the finish line, all the special guests inside the VIP box, including the Sports Minister, John Enoh and top officials of the AFN rose, clapping endlessly for the young runner.

Impressed by his performance, the sports minister quickly sent for Dachung and his coach.

“I was really impressed by the stamina the young boy displayed from the beginning to the end of the 5000m race,” Enoh told journalists at the end of the national trials.

“We will do everything needed to enable this talent fly beyond basic heights and become a long race legend in good time. We will also see how the sports ministry can encourage other talents discovered in this National Trials,” Enoh stated.

Apart from the sports minister, the performance by the young Dachung also caught the attention of key sports administrators, including AFN President, Tonobok Okowa, Vice President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), Solomon Ogba and the Chairman, AFN Competitions Management Committee, Commodore Omatseye Nesiama (rtd).

Apart from the special handshake and photograph with the sports minister, the young runner left the VIP with huge cash given to him by some top sports administrators and fans others.