Nigerian athletes concluded their campaign at the World U-20 Athletics Championships in Lima, Peru, without securing any medals, following losses in two finals on Friday, August 30, 2024.
This continues a worrying trend for Nigeria in international track and field competitions, as no Nigerian athlete managed to secure a podium finish at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
At the U-20 Championships, Prestina Ochonogor initially raised hopes for a medal after qualifying for the women’s long jump final with a leap of 6.28 meters on Tuesday, August 27, 2024.
However, she fell short in the final, placing fifth with a 6.21-meter jump.
In the women’s 100 meters, Justina Eyakpobeyan, who reached the semi-finals with a time of 11.61 seconds, finished seventh in the final, clocking 11.63 seconds.
Ella Onojuvwevwo also narrowly missed out on a podium finish, placing fifth in the women’s 400 meters with a time of 52.61 seconds.
Gafar Badmus finished fifth in his semi-final heat in the men’s 400 meters, with a time of 47.43 seconds, failing to advance to the finals.
In a surprising twist, Caleb Joshua, who had initially placed third in his heat in the men’s 400 meters, was disqualified for a lane infringement, further diminishing Nigeria’s chances of a medal.
With these results, Nigeria’s medal drought in international athletics competitions continues, raising concerns about the future of the nation’s track and field prospects.
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