World Relays: Why Nigeria’s Women Missed 4x400m Repechage Race

World Relays: Why Nigeria’s Women Missed 4x400m Repechage Race

Sampson Adedeji

Team Nigeria failed to compete in the women’s 4x400m repechage at the World Relays after a mix-up involving the athletes scheduled for the race, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

According to reports from the competition venue, Nigeria could not take part in the event because the team failed to assemble the required four athletes on the track before the start of the race.

Some of the athletes who had earlier featured in the mixed 4x400m relay were expected to join the women’s team for the repechage event. 

However, confusion over procedures and movement between the track and call-room reportedly disrupted the arrangement.

Officials delayed the start of the race for a few minutes while waiting for the Nigerian quartet to assemble, but with the team still incomplete, the event eventually proceeded without Nigeria.

A similar situation almost affected Nigeria in the mixed 4x100m relay event. 

However, Favour Ashe and Chidera Ezeakor, who had just completed the men’s 4x100m race, stayed on the track and immediately lined up for the mixed relay, helping the country avoid another disqualification scenario.

Sources close to the team also revealed that it would have been physically demanding for athletes such as Patience Okon-George and Taiwo Kudoro to compete in consecutive 400m races within a short period of about 10 minutes.

Nigeria’s absence from the women’s 4x400m repechage ended the country’s hopes of securing another qualification opportunity in the event at the World Relays competition.