The World Athletics Championships started this Friday in Oregon, USA. and Nigerian Athletes are not left out in the battle for medals.
As expected, it will be a tough challenge as no country want to be relegated when it comes to putting up credible performances at the biennial event.
With a total of nine medals, silver and bronze, since the inception, Nigeria is expected to win her first gold at this year’s delayed event.
Tobi Amusan is one of the leading contenders to win gold in the 110 meters hurdles this year after missing out of the medal winning spots in the 2019 edition.
Long jump specialist, Ese Brume, could become the first Nigerian athlete to win medals at two World Championships. She got Bronze during the last edition in Doha.
Favour Ofili has risen from the ruins of her 2019 outing where he could only get to the semi-final stage of the 400 metres.The 19-year-old will be competing in the 100 metres 200 metres and is part of 4x100m women relay team
World U-20 200 metres champion, Udodi Onwuzurike will be competing in the 100, 200 metres and the relays. He is Nigeria’s sole representative in the men’s 200 metres event.
Ezekiel Nathaniel is making his Championships debut and will compete in the 400 metres hurdles event. He broke Henry Amike’s 35-year national record of 48.50 seconds when he ran 48.42s in May at the Big 12 track and field competition in Lubbock, Texas.
Nigeria’s fastest man, 20-year-old Favour Ashe will stake a claim to gold from the 100 metres sprint, alongside Udodi Onwuzurike and Raymond Ekevwo. He makes up the top 16 sub-10 seconds male sprinters heading to the Championships with a season best time of 9.99 seconds
Ekevwo will compete in the 100 metres and is part of Nigeria’s men 4×100 metres relay team to the Championships. The 2019 African Games champion will enter Oregon with a season best of 10.04 seconds.
Patience George will be competing at her 5th Championships in her favourite relay event. She makes up a 6-man team that consists of Patience Knowledge Omovoh, Imaobong Nse Uko, Sikiru Adewale Adeyemi, Dubem Amene and Samson Oghenewegba Nathaniel in the 4×400 mixed relay.
Also World U-20 champion, Imaobong Nse Uko, will compete at Oregon in her debut senior Championships and will compete in the 400 metres and 4×400 metres mixed relays events.
Enekwechi Chukwuebuka who placed eighth during the last edition in Doha, will compete in the shot put event. He is the reigning African Champion in the field event.
Editor Paul Akhagbemhe
