By Femi Atolagbe, Asaba

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Asaba 2022 National Sports Festival athletics 200metres Gold medalist, Musibau Adebisi has said he could not return  20.54seconds broken 26 years old record set by Seun Ogunkoya at Benue 1996 festival in the final because of respect he had for senior sprinters.

The Ondo State born National Sports Festival debutant had ran 20.54 in heat, which put an end to the record set by his Kingsman, Seun Ogunkoya at the National Sports Festival held in Benue State in 1996, but could only returned 20.85 in the final. The record, is however subjected to Athletics Federal of Nigeria AFN ratification.

Adebisi while speaking with Sporting Hope in Asaba added that he was jittery seeing himself on same track with senior sprinters.

The 18years old sprinter said he raced with his peers in the heat without any intimidation, saying the case was not the same in the final, but I thank God for the feat recorded.

The Ikare Akoko born sprinter said : “It was when I watched the video of the final that I knew that my curve was not chap enough, my curve in the final  was not good like I did in the heat, I was jittery of the senior men on the track, but thank God for the experience coaches we have in Ondo State.

My coach called me immediately he saw the fear in my face , and said Adebisi fear no human, you have done it in heat, you can do it again in the final, go out there and make your self ,your family and Ondo State proud and glory to God Almighty it ended in praises.”

He said: “I started sprint about two years ago, and I have never participated in any major competition before, this is my first time of coming to Festival, I did not participated in Edo 2020 because I didn’t qualified, but my coach took me along with my senior colleagues to watch them.”

“I never knew my coaches were building me for future champions, thank God I didn’t disappoint them, I won’t relent until I become best, complacency is not in my dictionary”.

Usain Bolt is my role model, I want to be like him and even greater than him,” the young sprinter said .

Ondo State ended the 21st National Sports Festival on 13th position with nine gold, 26 silver and 46 bronze total 81 medals.