Team Nigeria had only two athletes in action on Day 6 of the 2015 IAAF World Championships.
Doreen Amata competed in the women’s High Jump and easily qualified for the final coming up on Saturday. In the summary of the qualifiers, the seven-time Nigerian champion ranked 2nd of all 13 athletes who went through.
In fact, Amata was one of only five athletes who cleared every single qualifying distance – 1.80, 1.85, 1.89 & 1.92m in all first attempts without failing any of them.
Could it be that Amata might spring a surprise and claim a medal in the final? The two-time All African Games champion is Nigeria’s National Record High Jump holder and will be aiming to surpass that mark of 1.95m.
There is Olympic champion Anna Chicherova and Blanka Vlasic to contend with in the final, but Amata will fancy her chances going into the final as she looks to improve on her 8th place finish last two years in Moscow.
Meanwhile in the men’s Triple Jump, Tosin Oke finished 8th with his best mark of 16.81m which he did in his 3rd attempt. Oke had only two jumps recorded on the board, committing four fouls in the other six.
The Nigerian champion who is making his 3rd appearance in the World Championships, did 16.77m in his first attempt, and qualifying to contest for a medal placing with his third try. It didn’t go the way Oke would have wanted, but he will now look forward to the All African Games to end the year better.
There will not be any Team Nigeria athlete competing on Day 7 of the Championships, with the country now hoping to be amongst the medals on Day 8 when the relays come up.
