Sade Olatoye was Nigeria’s sole medallist on Day 4 of the 22nd edition of the African Senior Athletics Championships in Mauritius. Nevertheless, her GOLD-winning effort in the women’s Hammer throw was enough to keep Nigeria in joint 3rd (alongside Algeria) on the medals table with a total of seven medals: four GOLD, two Silver and a Bronze medal.
It was a close contest between the Nigerian and Algeria’s Zouina Bouzebra but Olatoye dug deep to produce her winning mark of 63.67m on her third attempt, sealing her victory in her first outing at the African Championships.
In her first appearance for Nigeria at the African Championships, Sade Olatoye struck GOLD in the women’s Hammer throw.
Meanwhile, Chidi Okezie was the only Nigerian athlete to make the 200m final at the ongoing championships. Earlier in the day, the National Sports Festival (NSF) 400m Champion made his third appearance at the African Championships – his first in the 200m – finishing 3rd in Heat 2 with a time of 20.84s before booking his spot in the final, having finished 2nd in his semifinal race with 21.01s.
Chidi Okezie made his debut international outing in the 200m and qualified for the final at the African Championships.
Fakorede Adekalu placed 3rd in Heat 8 with a time of 21.00s and didn’t advance to the final. Ogho-Oghene Egwero was 6th in his heat in 22.08s, and also didn’t make the final.
Women’s 4x100m GOLD medallists Tima Godbless and Praise Idamadudu raced in the women’s 200m heats and both advanced to the semis after placing 2nd in their respective heats. In Heat 3, Godbless clocked 22.99s while Idamadudu who was drawn in Heat 5, clocked 23.48s. In the semis however, Godbless placed 4th with 23.55s while Idamadudu finished 6th (23.58s), bringing their sojourn in the 200m to an end.
Tima Godbless and Praise Idamadudu competed in the women’s 200m heats and semis.
In the women’s 400m Hurdles semis, Joy Abu qualified for tomorrow’s final with her 3rd place finish in 58.94s as teammate Kemi Petersen followed in 4th with 1:01;07. Sarah Ochigbo competed in the second semifinal heat and finished 6th with 59.77s.
In the men’s 4x400m heat, Team Nigeria finished 2nd to Botswana in Heat 1 with a time of 3:12.24 and will compete against Botswana, Gambia, Zambia, South Africa, Tunisia, Senegal and Kenya in the final which is going to be the last event of the championships.
