The medal rush continued for Nigeria on Day 3 of the ongoing African U-18/U-20 Championships in Zambia as the team racked up five more medals to their tally.
Although no GOLD medal was won, there were some electrifying performances from the athletes in action. Nigeria’s most decorated medalist on Day 3, Joel Iheakolam won Silver and Bronze medals respectively in the men’s U20 Triple Jump and 110m hurdles.
Iheakolam hopped to a jump of 15.72m on his last attempt, only to miss the GOLD medal by 2cm as the winner from Burkina Faso, Soumaila Sabo took the crown in 15.74m, which was his only attempt in the competition.
A few hours later, Iheakolam returned to action in the men’s U20 110m hurdles where he snatched 3rd place with a time of 14.34s behind Algeria’s Moncif Kherraf (13.81s) and South Africa’s Sehan Kemp (13.95s).
In the U18 category, Christian Dickson finished 4th with a time of 14.66s behind South Africa duo of Naeem Jack (13.31s) and Werner Bezidenhout (13.43s). Jack’s winning time was a new Championships Record (CR).
Oluchi Ochonogor leaped to a Personal Best (PB) of 6.00m to win the Silver medal in the girl’s U18 Long Jump. South Africa’s Jade Coetzee won the event with a CR of 6.08m, while Burkina Faso’s Awa Zango was 3rd in 5.68m.
Faith Osamuyi brought home the Silver medal in the girl’s U18 100m hurdles in a Personal Best of 13.77s, behind South Africa’s Tumi Ramokgopa (13.42s).
In the last event of the day, Nigeria’s Mixed U20 4x400m quartet finished 2nd as South Africa narrowly edged them to take the title in a CR of 3:25.42s to 3:25.60s. Kenya was far 3rd in 3:29.38s.
The quartet includes Badejo Emmanuel, Queen Osunobun, Ajayi Bamidele, and Opeyemi Oke.
