Nigeria wins gold, sets new record at World U-20 Athletics Championship

Nigeria on Wednesday won its first gold medal in the 4×400 mixed relay event at the World Athletics Under-20 Championship holding in Nairobi, Kenya.

The World Athletics U20 Championships is a biennial world championships for the sport of athletics organised by the World Athletics, contested by athletes in the under-20 athletics age category: 19 years old or younger on 31 December in the year of the competition.

This year’s event is taking place from 17 to 22 August 2021 at the Nyayo Sports Complex in Nairobi, Kenya.

Earlier on Wednesday, India (3:23:36) had won Heat One setting a short-lived Championship record, with Czech Republic and Jamaica finishing 2nd and 3rd respectively; Poland finished fastest outside of automatic qualification.

In lightning fashion, Nigeria (Johnson Nnamani, Ella Onojuvwevwo, Deborah Oke and Bamidele Ajayi) winning Heat two (3:21:66) smashed the Continental and Championship record beating Kenya, Italy and South Africa with Sri Lanka finishing second fastest out of automatic qualification.

Hosts, Kenya were however disqualified for line infringement.

Nigeria had the best qualifying time (3:21:66) with India (3:23:36), Czech Republic (3:24:15), Jamaica (3:24:65), Poland (3:24:69),

Sri Lanka (3:24:62), Italy (3:28:00), South Africa (3:30:43), making the final.

Final:

In the first finals of the Championship, Nigeria made further history beating her own Championship record by returning a time of 3:19:70 seconds.

The quartet of Johnson Nnamani, Imaobong Nse Uko, Opeyemi Deborah Oke and Bamidele Ajayi beat Poland (3:19:80) and India (3:20:60) who finished with Silver and Bronze respectively.

This is the first time the 4x400m mixed relay will.be holding at the World U-20 Athletcs Championship.