By Victor Kanayo
Team Nigeria in the 4x400m relay on Saturday failed to make it to the final of the ongoing World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary.
The team with the quartet of Dubem Nwachukwu, Patience Okon-George, Ezekiel Nathaniel and Imaobong Nse Uko finished 7th in Heat 2 of the mixed 4x400m relay race.
Team Nigeria’s Free Fall
They only managed to clock a Season’s Best (SB) of 3:14.38.
The race was won by the Netherlands in a SB of 3:12.12, followed by France who set a National Record (NR) of 3:12.25).
Czech Republic came 3rd in 3.12.52.
Drawn in Lane 9, Nwachukwu, who is making his debut for Nigeria, established a good lead before handing the baton to Okon-George.
The team eventually faded to 7th and will not be in the final, finishing 12th overall.
Samson Nathaniel, Uko, Dubem Amene and Okon-George placed 6th in last year’s final in Oregon.
Amusan Title Defence In View
On Tuesday, August 22, World record holder, Tobi Amusan, will begin her quest to defend her title in the 100m hurdles at the Championship.
Amusan will be eligible to compete after the Athletics Integrity Unit of the World Athletics cleared her of any doping involvement, weeks after she was charged for not showing up three times in the mandatory whereabouts update.
