Workforce Nigeria has loved moments of pleasure and disappointment on the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, with new stars making headlines whereas some acquainted names fell quick.
The most important spotlight to date got here from Ajayi Kanyisola, who ran the race of his life within the males’s 100 metres heats.
Ajayi clocked a private better of 9.88 seconds, ending second in Warmth 1. South Africa’s Reward Leotlela received the race in 9.87s, whereas Jamaica’s Indirect Seville got here third in 9.93s. Ajayi’s good run gave him an automated ticket to the subsequent spherical.
One other massive speaking level was Sunday Israel Okon, the 21-year-old who shocked the sphere in Warmth 6 of the 100m.
Okon ran 10.04 seconds to complete first, beating massive names like Nice Britain’s Zharnel Hughes and Olympic champion Marcell Jacobs of Italy.
Okon’s explosive begin and calm end confirmed that he has what it takes to combat for a spot within the closing, and perhaps even a medal.
Nigeria’s ladies had a tougher time on the observe.
Rosemary Chukwuma, the one Nigerian within the ladies’s 100m, completed fifth in her warmth with a time of 11.27 seconds, lacking out on the semifinals.
Jamaica’s Tia Clayton received that race in 11.01s, forward of Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith and Poland’s Ewa Swoboda.
Within the area occasions, teenager Prestina Oluchi Ochonogor couldn’t make it previous the ladies’s lengthy soar qualification.
The 19-year-old, making her first World Championships look, completed close to the underside however is seen as one for the longer term.
Nigeria’s lengthy soar star Ese Brume additionally missed out on a spot within the closing. Nonetheless, her return to competitors after a critical automobile accident that left her in a neck brace was celebrated as a narrative of braveness, although her jumps weren’t sufficient to advance.
There was excellent news within the males’s shot put. Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, Nigeria’s report holder, reached the ultimate after a sequence of regular throws.
He recorded 20.83m on his first and final makes an attempt, and 20.71m on his second.
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That was sufficient to put him seventh general and safely inside the highest 12 wanted for the ultimate. After lacking out narrowly in Budapest two years in the past, this was candy redemption for him.
Nigeria’s discus throwers, Chioma Onyekwere-Lyons and Obiageri Amaechi, couldn’t qualify. Onyekwere threw 59.45m in her first try however fouled her final two, ending her marketing campaign. Amaechi managed 55.69m in Group A, but it surely was not sufficient to achieve the ultimate both.
Whereas the early days have been overshadowed by complaints round substandard kits and a few established names failing to hit the required mark, many are nonetheless hoping for some mild on the finish of the tunnel for Workforce Nigeria in Tokyo.
