Nigeria, May 28 -- At the 22nd National Sports Festival in Abeokuta, a familiar name once again stood tallest, literally and figuratively, in the women's pole vault event.

Hope Aruya, multiple-time national champion and one of Nigeria's few elite female vaulters, successfully defended her title on Tuesday.

But even in victory, her biggest message wasn't about medals; it was a passionate call to action: "We need more athletes in pole vault."

Despite a gold-medal performance at the MKO Abiola Sports Arena, Aruya's main concern was the dwindling participation in one of track and field's most technical disciplines.

Competing in a modest field of four, Bayelsa's Hope Aruya cleared 2.95 metres to clinch yet another pole vault gold at the Na...