Here’s the full schedule of ALL Team Nigeria events on Day 1 of the World Athletics U20 Championships taking place in Nairobi, Kenya.
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Morning Session (Kasarani Stadium)
7 am- Mixed 4x400m Heats
7:35 am- Women’s 100m Heats
- Praise Ofoku (11.50)-Heat 2
- Tima Godbless (11.48s)- Heat 3
8:20 am- Men’s 100m Heats
- Godson Brume (10.13s)- Heat 1
- Favour Ashe (10.17s)- Heat 2
9:15 am- Women’s 400m Heats-
- Nse Imaobong (51.70)- Heat 3
- Opeyemi Oke (53.56)- Heat 1
9:40 am- Men’s 400m Heats-
- Dubem Amene ( 46.40)-Heat 2
- Bamidele Ajayi (46.24)-Heat 3
Afternoon Session
2:10 pm- Women’s 100m Semifinal-*if the Athletes qualify from their heats*
- Praise Ofoku
- Tima Godbless
2:14 pm- Men’s Javelin Throw Qualification Group A-
2:40 pm- Men’s 100m Semifinal-*if the Athletes qualify from their heats*
- Favour Ashe
- Godson Brume
3:15 pm- Mixed 4x400m Final
In the men’s 100m, Brume has the fastest time (10.13s) of any athlete going into the heats and he would be hoping to reignite the sort of form that saw him finish fourth at the Nigerian Championships in June.
Ashe is another athlete to watch out for as he’s already raced to a windy 10.07s back in March, although he enters with the second-fastest time of 10.17s. In preparation for the championships, he seems to be the sprinter in form having defeated his colleagues in pre-championship races while in camp.
Benjamin Richardson (10.17) of South Africa, Jamaica’s Bryan Levell (10.21), and Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo are some of the athletes that can challenge for the 100m title.
Praise Ofoku and Tima Godbless have had outstanding seasons competing as Juniors in the Nigeria Athletics circuit all through the year. They will be looking to prove their worth when they jostle it out amongst some of the best junior athletes over the women’s 100m.
Ofoku with a PB of 11.50s, is in Heat 2, while Godbless (PB of 11.48s) will be running in heat 3.
Dubem Amene will be making his debut at the World Juniors for Nigeria. Born in the United States, Amene comes into the men’s 400m as one of the fastest U20 athletes with a PB of 46.20, a time he set while placing 3rd at the B1G Jesse Owens Classic in May. Bamidele Ajayi (46.24)-Heat 3, is the other athlete competing for Nigeria in the event.
Imaobong Nse Uko is undoubted the favourite for GOLD in the women’s 400m going into Nairobi. With a PB of 51.70, which she set at the National Sports Festival in April, Nse will hope to end her season on a high note when she takes to the track in the heats on Day 1.
Nigeria’s other entry in the women’s 400m, Opeyemi Oke has been pitted in Heat 1 of the event.
In the men’s Javelin Nnamdi is ranked 6th going into the championships as he would be hoping to get on the podium after clinching GOLD at the African Youth Championships in Abidjan in 2019 and Bronze at the African Games in Rabat in 2019.
NB: The times slated for the event are Nigerian times
