Nigeria’s quartets raced to victory as the four relay teams representing the country clinched tickets on days one and two of the World Relays.
In a two-day global event that saw 893 athletes from 54 countries vie for slots at the centennial games on Saturday, May 4, and Sunday, May 5, 2024, Nigeria’s four relay teams got the job done.
Nigeria’s Olympic qualification pursuit began with the mixed 4x400m, where the quartet of Samuel Ogazi, Ella Onojuvwevwo, Chidi Okezie, and Esther Elo Joseph ran an impressive and tactical race to finish second in 3:13.79 and grab their ticket to Paris. They finished second behind the USA in the heat but managed to earn a fourth-place finish in the final, with an African Record time of 3:12.87.
About two hours later, Chidi Okezie, who also raced with the 4x400m Mixed team, helped the Men secure Nigeria’s second ticket with an impressive anchor leg in the men’s 4x400m. Chidi Okezie was the star of both races, running incredible legs to bring the nation back into contention with splits of 44.46s and 44.78s. The African Games 400m champion led an iconic charge as the squad of Dubem Nwachukwu, Dubem Amene, Sikiru Adewale, and Okezie all raced to second in a Season’s Best (SB) of 3:01.70 —Nigeria’s fastest time in twenty years.
Having secured their spot in Paris, Nigeria will now return to the 4x400m event at the Olympics for the first time since 2004 in Athens, where the team anchored by Enefiong Udo-Obong won a bronze medal.
In the women’s 4x100m, the quartet of Tinna Eyakpobeyan, Favour Ofili, Olayinka Olajide, and Tima Godbless finished third in 43.15s on day one, behind the USA in 42.21s and France in 43.09s, failing to finish in the top two positions for the Olympic automatic qualifying ticket. However, they had another chance at Olympic glory in the second qualifying round, which they seized.
The women’s 4x100m quartet of Justina Eyakpobeyan, Favour Ofili, Olayinka Olajide, and Tima Godbless demonstrated outstanding pace and team chemistry, running to victory in their heat in a time of 42.71s to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics, marking their ninth consecutive appearance at the Olympic Games.
The Nigerian quartet withstood pressure from a strong Swiss team, who finished right behind them in second in a time of 42.75s, while China placed third in 43.13s.
Also, the 4x100m men’s team geared up after an unimpressive performance on Day one, finishing fifth in 38.49s, and secured Nigeria’s first men’s 4x100m Olympic ticket in 16 years with a time of 38.57s, finishing second in their heat behind Ghana.
The Olympics are slated to be held in Paris from Friday, July 26, to Sunday, August 11, 2024.
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