By Victor Kanayo
It was a moment to cheer after two Nigerian relay team qualified for the 2024 Olympics scheduled for Paris, France.
Also, both teams secured World Championship places.
Heriatge Times (HT) reports that the teams are mixed relay and men’s 4x400m quartets.
The mixed relay team featuring Samuel Ogazi, Ella Onojuvwevwo, Chidi Okezie and Elo Esther Joseph achieved the feat by coming second with a time of 3.13.79 seconds in their qualifying heats at the World Relays ongoing in Bahamas.
The USA was first in the heat with a championship record of 3.11.52secs. South Africa were third with 13.15.95 seconds.
Also, the men’s 4x400m quartet of Dubem Nwachukwu, Dubem Amene, Sikiru Adeyemi and Chidi Okezie put up a stellar performance at the 2024 World Relays, clocking a time of 3:01.70 to secure qualification for the Olympic Games.
It is the first time in many years the Nigerian men 4x400m would be qualifying for the Olympics.
With their time of 3:01.70, they ran the fastest time by a Nigerian male 4x400m team since the Bronze-winning team at the Athens 2004 Olympics.
Meanwhile, it was not the same for the Nigerian 4x100m relay men and women relay squads as they failed to finish in the top two for the automatic qualifying ticket.
In the women’s 4x100m, Tinna Eyakpobeyan, Favour Ofili, Olayinka Olajide, and Tima Godbless settled for the third position in 43.15s behind USA in 42.21s and France in 43.09s.
The Nigeria team, with the third fastest time in the heats will now aim to be on the podium in the final.
Since winning bronze at the 1984 Games, gold in 2000 and bronze in 2004, Nigeria failed to make impact at the Olympics.
The women’s 4x400m did not make a showing in Bahamas as the team was incomplete.
In the women’s 4x100m contest, Justina Tiana Eyakpobeyan, Favour Ofili, Yinka Olajide and Tima Godbless narrowly missed qualification for the final and also the Olympics ticket after finishing 43.15secs and placing third in their heat. A far cry performance from their personal best of 42.22secs.
An imperfect exchange between Olayinka and Godbless slowed down the team’s pace. They had little time to perfect their exchange.
Godbless put up a spirited fight, but fell short of overwhelming Mallory Laconte of France, they finished at 43.09, while the USA took the race at 42.42 seconds.
The men’s 4x100m also did not click as Udodi Uwazurike, Consider Ekanem, Alaba Akintola and Seye Ogunlewe placed fourth in their heats after posting 38.47 secs well bellow their personal best of 37.94secs.
