Nigeria bags gold, silver in 4x100m relays

Nigeria’s athletes made a splash on the final day of the Africa Senior Athletics Championships, capturing gold in the women’s 4x100m relay and silver in the men’s event, held in Douala, Cameroon.

The Nigerian quartet of Justina Eyakpobeyan, Tima Godbless, Olayinka Olajide, and Tobi Amusan delivered a stunning performance, clocking 42.76 seconds to secure the gold medal in the women’s 4x100m relay event.

Nigeria’s gold medal tally climbed to four with the victory in the women’s 4x100m relay event, showcasing the team’s exceptional performance.

Titiana Eyakpobeya started a great race and handed over Tim’s Godbless on time. Godbless did not disappoint, as she overpowered her challengers to hand the baton to Olayinka Olajide, who ran the last bend to hand it over to Susan.

Amusan had arrived in Douala on Thursday morning alongside other members of the Nigerian contingent with no sign of illness. But she fell ill in the night, and the Sports Ministry’s medical personnel attached to the AFN team to Douala advised her to take a rest.

She took part in the 4x100m relay final because AFN Technical Director Samuel Onikeku tendered a medical report on her, unlike the duo of Favour Ofili and Rosemary Chukwuma, who pulled out of the 100m semifinal without the knowledge of the technical committee.

In the men’s event, which drew curtains on the day’s activities at Stade de Japoma in Douala, the quartet of Kanyinsola Ajayi, Usheoritse Itsekiri, Alaba Akintola, and Godson Brume finished second behind rivals Ghana, who ran 38.46s to clinch the gold.

Meanwhile, Prestina Ochonogor, who only came onto the scene this year, finished fourth in the women’s long jump, proving herself as a big revelation at the championships. She won bronze at the African Games.

With her points from the National Championships and African Championships yet to be added, Prestina could potentially leapfrog from 37th to within the top 32, earning a coveted Olympic spot.

The events competed for on the fourth day of the championship are: Women’s Long Jump Heptathlon, Women’s Javelin Heptathlon, Men’s 100m Hurdles Heats, Women’s Shot Put Final, Women’s 10,000m Final, Women’s 800m Heptathlon, Women’s 4x100m Relay Final, and Men’s 4x100m Relay Final.

Punch