On Day 1 of the World Athletics U20 Championships in Lima, Peru, some Nigerian athletes showcased impressive performances while others faced some setbacks after taking to the track of the Estadio Atlético de la Videna.
In the women’s 100m, Justina Eyakpobeyan secured her place in the final by finishing 2nd in her semifinal heat with a time of 11.56s. Despite Jamaica’s Alana Reid winning the heat in 11.44s, Eyakpobeyan’s strong performance ensured her a spot in the final.
On the men’s side, Israel Sunday Okon demonstrated his potential by winning his heat with a time of 10.48s, advancing him to the semifinals. However, Okon suffered an injury post-race and ultimately did not compete in the semifinals, missing out on a chance to further his campaign.
The other two Nigerian entrants, Chidera Ezeakor and Chioma Nweke, who competed in the men’s and women’s 100m respectively, were unable to progress past their heats.
Prestina Ochonogor continued her fine form from the Paris Olympics as she leapt to the second farthest jump overall with a distance of 6.28m to make the final of the women’s Long Jump. The jumper has made the final in every major international competition she has participated in this year.
The mixed 4x400m relay team, consisting of Oseiwe Salami, Odot Effiong Udo, Gafari Badmus and Favour Onyah, ran a Season’s Best (SB) of 3:25.59 to finish 3rd in their heat. Despite their strong performance, they did not qualify for the final as the 3rd and 4th placed teams from Heat 1 ran faster.
