Nigeria’s Mixed 4x400m relay team ran an impressive 3:13.60 to set a new African and National Record as they finished fifth in Heat 1 of this event which made its debut at the Olympic Games.
The quartet of Emmanuel Ojeli, Imaobong Nse Uko, Samson Nathaniel and Patience Okon-George were the four athletes who graced the Olympic Stadium track, running from lane 8 for Nigeria as they made history being the first team from Africa to run in this event to the Olympics.
Ojeli took the opening leg and ran with so much power and heart handing the baton to Imaobong, the National Sports Festival 400m Champion who ran the second leg, with Nigeria looking to have been in a good position to qualify for the final.
However, with the country deviating from the man-woman-woman-man strategy every nation had used, Okon-George, who ran the anchor for Nigeria couldn’t maintain the lead as she got overhauled by her male counterparts.
USA and Dominican Republic who had a 1-2 finish later got disqualified due to varying degrees of lane infractions.
