Nigerian 200m Champion Sunday Israel Okon competed in heat 4 of the men’s 100m at the World U20 Championships in Peru, getting off to a brilliant start and easing off slightly to win his section with a time of 10.48s (-0.8).
Despite finishing with a slight niggle, Okon secured the victory ahead of Sri Lanka’s Merone Wijesinghe, who clocked 10.55s, and the United States’ Jaden Wiley, who finished in 10.59s.
Chidera Ezeakor, the country’s only other entrant in the event, stumbled out of the blocks and never fully recovered, managing only 10.92s for 7th place in a heat won by Bayanda Walaza in 10.28s.
In the women’s 100m, Justina Eyakpobeyan safely advanced to the semifinals, finishing 3rd in her heat with a time of 11.61s (0.2). Great Britain’s Mabel Akande won the heat in 11.53s, followed by Radina Velichkova in 11.57s.
Chioma Cynthia Nweke struggled in her heat, finishing 6th with a time of 12.24s, which was not enough to advance.
