Adeyemi Johnson, the Head Coach of Kwara State Athletics Association, on Friday said the state would send a 13-man athletics team to the forthcoming Dr. Daniel Olukoya Athletics Championships.

Johnson told the News Agency of Nigeria that he was optimistic that some of the athletes would eventually make the country's team to International competitions.

He, however, said a precise date was yet to be fixed for the 2016 Athletics Championships, which he noted had been used in the past identify many athletes.

He said: "The 13 athletes will be a mix of some new and old athletes. "Do not forget that the championship will be used select athletes for international competitions.

"We are taking the competition seriously. "We mean business and I know that my state will raise more athletes for the country through the competition."

It was through past event that Abolaji Omotayo, a 100m gold medalist at the 2015 Youth Commonwealth Games in Samoa, was discovered.

Victor Peka, a silver medalist at the 2015 African Junior Championships, and Sikiru Adeyemi, a gold medalist in the 4x200m at the 2015 Youth Commonwealth Games, were also identified through the meet.

The coach added that his team had been training for the event since last year, noting that the athletes had been improving.

He said: "My athletes have been improving day by day. "I have been training them since last year and I know we will make the right impact."