AFN Sets Standard For All Nigerian Championship

By Idris Adesina and Prestige Otaben The Athletics Federation of Nigeria on Tuesday released the entry standards for qualification for the National Athletics Championships, which holds from July 5 to 7 at the National Stadium, Abuja. According to an invitation letter sent to clubs, state associations and para-military organisations, the new date replaced the previous date of July 8 to 12. Technical Director of the federation Sunday Adeleye said the competition would be used as the final trials to select Nigeria’s team to the 2018 African Senior Championships holding in Asaba from August 1 to 5. He implored clubs to submit their entries on time as no entry would be entertained at the venue of the competition, adding that the standards released would ensure that the competition brought out the best in the athletes. He said athletes who have met the standard would have a refund of their flight tickets to the competition. “The All-Nigeria Championships is close by and we are excited that our athletes have been doing well since the season began. Athletes who have met the standards are free to participate in the event as it is the opportunity they have to compete for a place in the team for the African championships,” he said. The AFN set the standard for 100m at 10.06secs for men and 11.10secs for women. The 200m was pegged at 20.20secs for men and 22.60secs for the women. The men’s 400m was set at 50.80secs for women and 45.20secs for the men. Men who have ran 13.10secs in the 110m hurdles will qualify while women have to finish in 13.50secs to qualify for the 100m hurdles. Men’s high jump was set at 2.20m while women’s was set at 1.81m. Men have to throw a distance of 79.80m in the javelin while women must throw 62.90m to qualify for the competition. Hammer was set at 62.90m for women and 72.98m for men.