Nigeria’s 4x100m men team failed to qualify for the World Athletics Championships in Oregon after a poor performance at the trials in Benin City, the Edo State capital on Sunday.
The team ran 38.34secs on the opening day of the championships, but clocked 38.84secs in the final on Sunday.
With the time, the team dropped from 16th to 17th position, after Team Liberia’s performance took them to the 16th and final position for the World Championships in Oregon, USA.
Also in the women’s race, an exchange of baton in the last leg between Tobi Amusan and Rosemary Chukwuma affected the performance of the team, despite winning ahead of Ghana and the Benin Republic.
Ese Brume retained her title as the country’s No.1 long jumper after jumping 6.89m in the final as Mike Edward improved on his Season’s Best of 2.15m that won him a silver medal at the African Athletics Championship in Mauritius to a new SB of 2.20m to win the men’s high jump.
The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, who graced the final day of the three-day trials, applauded the performance of the athletes and promised the government’s continuous support for the team.
He added that the ministry and the Athletics Federation of Nigeria were working together to ensure that the athletes were in good shape for the World Championships and the Commonwealth Games.
Contact: theeditor[at]punchng.com
