Topfield College is steadily building a reputation as one of the emerging powerhouses in both basketball and athletics, with student-athletes Onasanya Ebunoluwa and Nathanael Divine leading the charge through impressive performances and a growing commitment to excellence on and off the field.
Traditionally recognised for its dominance in basketball competitions, the college is now making strong strides in athletics as its students continue to compete at major school championships, including the Fitchild Showdown Championship 2026.
For Ebunoluwa, who recently finished second in the 200m event at the championship, the performance was only a stepping stone towards greater ambitions.
“I was expecting to come first, but I need to work harder. I will try my best, go for more training and do everything in my power to come first in the next race,” Ebunoluwa said.
The SS2 Science student, who also competes in basketball for the school at the prestigious Milo Basketball Competition, revealed that athletics has been part of his life since childhood.
“The last time I participated in this competition was seven years ago when I was seven years old, and I finished first in the 100m,” she recalled.
Now balancing life as a dual-sport athlete, Ebunoluwa believes she can excel in both basketball and athletics despite the demanding schedule.
“As a student-athlete, I have the desire to do athletics professionally, but right now I’m still playing basketball. I want to do both basketball and running together,” she said.
The youngster also opened up on the sacrifices required to combine academics with competitive sports.
“It is quite daunting to balance academics with basketball. I go to school, then head to the court around 3:30pm or 3:45pm, and by 6pm or 7pm I return home to rest,”s he explained.
While Ebunoluwa continues to shine on the track, fellow student-athlete Nathanael Divine is equally determined to help Topfield College establish itself as a force in athletics.
Divine competed in the Under-18 100m category and narrowly missed qualification for the final after finishing fifth in a highly competitive heat.
“I actually thought I would do better, but most of the guys I competed against are older than me. I am younger than them,” Divine said.
Like Ebunoluwa, Divine also has a strong basketball background and hopes to develop further in both sports after recently returning to athletics training.
“I was actually doing athletics before I stopped and moved to basketball. We just resumed practice last week,” he revealed.
The young athlete acknowledged the school’s growing influence in basketball and expressed confidence that athletics could soon enjoy similar success.
“I know my school has been dominating in basketball, and I also want us to make a statement in athletics as well,” he stated.
Divine credited discipline and proper planning for helping him cope with academics and sports responsibilities.
“I have a schedule throughout the weekdays. I go to school, come back at night, rest, then wake up from 1am to 3am to read before preparing for school the next day,” he said.
The performances of Ebunoluwa and Divine highlight a broader culture developing within Topfield College, where student-athletes are increasingly encouraged to pursue excellence across multiple sporting disciplines while maintaining academic standards.
With promising talents emerging in both basketball and track events, the school appears poised to strengthen its reputation as one of Lagos’ rising centres for collegiate-style sports development.