Nigeria will feature on the final day of the IAAF World Championships after its 4x400m women’s relay team made it into the final.
With three of her quarter milers all making it into the semifinals of the individual 400m event, it was expected that the team should have the quality to rub shoulders with the Americans and Jamaicans who have been dominant in the relays over the years.
Running in Lane 2 in the second heat, the quartet of Patience Okon-George, Glory Nathaniel, Emerald Egwim and Yinka Ajayi ran with so much vigour to storm to a Season’s Best (SB) of 3:25.40 as they finished 2nd. The Jamaican Team crossed the line first, also running an SB of 3.23.64.
The team had the 4th overall fastest time behind the Americans, Jamaicans and Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
It was Egwim’s first ever outing for Nigeria, and she will be hoping for a memorable outcome ahead of the final.
Nathaniel, who runs the 400m Hurdles, had to join the team, with Margaret Bamgbose reported to have suffered an injury.
Also, one of Nigeria’s representative in the 4x400m women, Abike Egbeniyi who had visa issues, departed the shores of the country Friday night for London, venue of the 2017 IAAF World Championships.
Egbeniyi was issued her visa late on Friday, with the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) booking her on the next available flight to arrive on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s 4x100m women’s relay team failed to show up when the heats took place earlier in the day.
The final of the 4x400m comes up on Sunday, August 13th.
