For a few unforgettable hours, the athletics track at Jephi University felt less like a corporate sports outing and more like an Olympic arena.
Athletes arrived with determination in their eyes and something to prove. Before the races even began, some sprinters stretched, bounced on their toes and went through elaborate warm-ups with the seriousness of seasoned professionals.
Perhaps it was psychological warfare. Perhaps they simply wanted to remind their rivals that they had come to compete. Once the starter called them to the line, however, there was no pretending.
The 2026 CSN athletics outing exploded into life. Every race brought speed, drama and narrow margins, with athletes pushing themselves to the limit as colleagues and supporters roared from the sidelines.
In the end, Hotel Africana emerged as the dominant force, producing the most balanced team performance. But last year’s champions had to earn every point.
The men’s 100 metres belonged to Centenary Bank, whose sprinter clocked an impressive 11.35 seconds to take gold. DFCU Bank followed in 11.98 seconds, while Hotel Africana settled for third in 12.00 seconds.
If the men’s sprint belonged to Centenary Bank, the women’s 100 metres was a different story. Hotel Africana took gold in 12.30 seconds, edging Vision Group, which finished in 12.35 seconds. Pearl Bank completed the podium in 12.42 seconds.
Then came the men’s 200 metres, where Hotel Africana shifted into another gear. Their sprinter stormed around the track in a blistering 21.04 seconds, leaving DFCU Bank in second at 22.10 seconds. The Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs claimed bronze in 24.03 seconds.
Hotel Africana continued its dominance in the women’s 200 metres. Their runner crossed the line in 25.01 seconds, with Case Hospital taking silver in 26.92 seconds and Vision Group bronze in 28.48 seconds.
But it was in the relay that the atmosphere reached fever pitch. Hotel Africana’s quartet again proved too strong, winning the race in 40.01 seconds. Vision Group followed closely in 40.85 seconds, while Centenary Bank took bronze in 42.73 seconds.
The performance was another reminder of Hotel Africana’s growing pedigree in the relay. Last year, their 4x100m team also carried the day, stopping the clock at 44.10 seconds. DFCU Bank was hot on their heels at 44.92 seconds, while Quality Chemicals Industries Limited finished just behind in 44.95 seconds.
Hotel Africana’s manager James Baker was in high spirits and revealed that although he had a new set of athletes from last year, they performed well to ensure they had the gold medal again.
