Nigeria Secure Double Relay Final Berths At World U20 Championships

Nigeria Secure Double Relay Final Berths At World U20 Championships

By Niyi Busari 

Team Nigeria strengthened its medal prospects at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Eugene after qualifying for the finals of both the women’s 4x100m and 4x400m relays, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

The women’s 4x400m quartet of Becky Ebiyadi, Jecinta Lawrence, Tejiri Praise Ugoh and Faith Ezechukwu clocked a season’s best of 3:35.28 to secure their place in the final.

Nigeria finished third in its heat behind Italy and Great Britain, with the time enough to earn a spot in the medal race.

The country also produced an impressive performance in the women’s 4x100m, where Ugoh teamed up with Lucy Nwankwo, Chigozie Nwankwo and Oluebube Ezechukwu to post another season’s best of 43.65 seconds.

Nigeria’s qualification was secured in dramatic fashion after Ezechukwu delivered a powerful anchor leg to overturn a sizeable deficit to the United States.

Receiving the baton almost 20 metres behind the Americans, Ezechukwu produced a blistering finish to close the gap and edge the US team at the line for the third automatic qualifying position.

Nigeria crossed the line in 43.65 seconds, just 0.02 seconds ahead of the United States, which clocked 43.67 seconds.

The double qualification puts Nigeria in contention for medals in both women’s relay events as the championships enter their decisive stages.

Attention will now turn to the evening session, with Success Uyibo set to compete in the women’s 200m final before Nigeria’s 4x100m quartet returns to the track for the relay final.