Team Nigeria in bright start with 1 gold, qualification for 4 finals

Nigeria had a bright and fruitful opening to the ongoing World Athletics Under-20 Championships in Nairobi on Tuesday, winning a gold medal and qualifying for the finals of four events.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that while the championships began on Tuesday with an opening ceremony, competition only began on Wednesday morning.

Team Nigeria were then quick to get into their stride by winning the gold medal in the 4×400 metres mixed relay event, setting a new African record on the way.

They won with the time of three minutes 19.70 seconds, hours after having broken the record earlier with 3:21.66 in their opening round’s heat.

The team comprised the quartet of Johnson Nnamani, Imaobong Uko, Deborah Oke and Bamidele Ajayi who ran in the final.

Ella Onojuvwevwo who ran with Nnamani, Oke and Ajayi in the opening round was also part of the team.

Chinecherem Nnamdi qualified for the men’s javelin throw final of Friday from Qualification Group A with 78.02m, a new national under-20 record.

Oke Oghenebrume also advanced into the men’s 100m final of Thursday after winning the semi-finals’ heat 3 in 10.22 seconds.

His time was the second best of the eight finalists, and he looks good for a medal in the final on Thursday.

While Oghenebrume won heat 1 of the first round with 10.35secs, compatriot Favour Ashe finished seventh in heat 2 with 11.00.

In the women’s 100m final of Thursday, Praise Ofoku will appear for Nigeria after advancing from the semi-finals’ heat 3 which she won with 11.57.

Teammate Tima Godbless was however not lucky with her time of 11.61 from heat 2, as she failed to qualify as one of the fastest losers.

Imaobong Uko also advanced to the final of the women’s 400m scheduled for Saturday after a time of 52.33 secs to win the semi-finals’ heat 3.

Her teammate, Opeyemi Oke, failed to advance from heat 1 after a time of 57.30 secs.

Bamidele Ajayi and Dubem Amene however failed to qualify for the final in the men’s 400m after recording 47.44 secs and 47.50 secs from heats 3 and 2 respectively.

NAN reports that the championships holding at the Kasarani Stadium of the Moi International Sports Centre will end on Sunday.