Team Nigeria has strengthened its presence on the global athletics stage after securing two additional qualification spots for the upcoming World Championships in Beijing.
The tickets were clinched during the final day of the World Athletics Relays held in Gaborone, where Nigerian relay teams delivered mixed but determined performances. The mixed 4x400m relay team — comprising Samson Nathaniel, Taiwo Kudoro, Chidi Okezie, and Patience Okon-George — finished second in their repechage heat with a season-best time of 3:12.88, earning one of the available qualification slots.
Similarly, the women’s 4x100m relay team bounced back from an earlier baton error to secure qualification, finishing second in their heat with a time of 42.94 seconds, narrowly behind France. These results add to the earlier qualification of Nigeria’s 4x100m mixed relay team, bringing the country’s total number of qualified relay teams for the championships to three.
Speaking after the race, team member Maria Thompson-Omokwe expressed pride in the achievement, noting that the team succeeded despite lacking foreign-based athletes. She emphasized that home-based athletes can deliver strong performances when given adequate support.
However, it was not a flawless outing for the team, as the men’s relay squads narrowly missed qualification, while the women’s 4x400m team was unable to start their event. The latest qualifications underline Nigeria’s resilience and growing competitiveness ahead of the World Championships, where the country will aim to make a significant impact on the global stage.
