He’s the fastest young man in Canada, because he blitzed the field at the Canadian National Legion Youth Track and Field Championships in Brandon, Manitoba. Dami Ogunbiyi, who competes in the U18 category, ran the 100m dash with a time of 10.71 in the finals on August 10, 2018. In second place was Nick Beaulieu from the Nova Scotia/Nunavut team, with a time of 10.82, and in third was Joakim Généreux of Quebec with a time of 10.84.
A student at Sacred Heart High School, Ogunbiyi said he went into the race feeling really good, after a year of hard work.
“I warmed up, stayed focused, and my body was feeling really good. I went through my heats and I had a really good time and was happy with it. For the final, I was sitting in third place, and I had to give it everything that I had.”
On the blocks before the final, Ogunbiyi said that while his fellow runners had surprised him with good times, and he took their race seriously, he stayed relax and focused on his plan, to get a good start and use his top end speed to separate himself from the crowd.
“I had a plan going into the race and I just had to execute it.”
The time in the final of 10.71 was a personal best for Ogunbiyi.
“It’s a really good feeling knowing that all the hard work paid off and that I can finally call myself a national champion.”
Also competing in the 200m, Ogunbiyi admits that race did not go as expected – he finished sixth with a time of 22.82. That race was won by Joakim Généreux of Quebec with a time of 22.28.
“It happens, you can’t win them all. I’m just happy to be here, to represent Saskatchewan.”
Proud to represent the city, Ogunbiyi thanks people for their support as he works hard to improve his times and become a better runner.
“It’s really, really, really motivating, and it’s humbling that so many people are following me and so many people are cheering for me from home. It’s really important because it keeps me going, that’s for sure.”
Ogunbiyi’s goal right now is to take a break, start preparing for the indoor season and, hopefully, get on the Canadian team for the Pan Am Games in 2019.
