After the failure by Nigeria’s male sprinters to complement the brilliant performance of the mixed relay team at the ongoing Athletics Championships in Oregon, the country’s hope for medals now shifts to the women, particularly long jumper, Ese Brume and hurdler, Tobi Amusan.
Team Nigeria officials are also hoping on the women’s 4x100m relay team to grab a medal. On Day One of the championship on Friday, Nigeria’s mixed relay team, made up of Patience Okon-George, Imaobong Nse Uko, Dubem Amene and Samson Nathaniel, made history by placing sixth in its second outing at a major competition, despite being rated 15th out of 16 participating countries in Oregon 2022.
Then, attention shifted to men’s 100m, where the efforts of Favour Ashe and Remond Ekevwo could not get to the medals zone. Nigeria’s Ashe placed fifth in semifinal on Saturday morning. Shot Putter, Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, who placed eighth in 2019 in Doha, was in the final. It was decided last night in the United States, which is early this morning in Nigeria.
The 4x100m relay for both men and women will begin on July 22, while the duo of Brume and Amusan will start their individual events on July 23.
Brume, bronze medalist at the last edition of the Championships in Doha, Qatar three years ago, will be aiming to become the first Nigerian athlete to win medals at two editions of the event. On her part, Amusan, who was fourth three years ago in Doha, will be seeking to become the second Nigerian sprint hurdler to win a medal at the Championships after Glory Alozie, who won a silver medal in Seville, Spain in 1999.
Nigerians are also looking forward to the likes of women sprinter, Favour Ofili and Rosemary Chukwuma, to do well in the 200m event, same as the reigning U20 200m champion, Udodi Onwuzurike. He could not make it beyond the heat in the 100m.
Another U-20 champion, Imaobong Nse Uko, who was part of the history making Nigeria’s Mixed Relay team on Friday, will be competing later in the 400m event.
Nigeria’s triple jump champion and record holder, Ruth Usoro, will hope to do well in the long jump event beginning on July 23. AFN Performance Director and Team Leader at Oregon 2022 Championship, Victor Okorie, told The Guardian on phone yesterday that the athletes are hopeful of making a bold statement in the competition.
“The spirit in our camp is very high and I am sure we will get something great before the end of this championship,” Okorie said.
