Twenty Nigerian track and field athletes have joined over 1,700 competitors from 134 teams and countries in Lima for the 2024 World Athletics Under-20 Championships.
These promising young athletes will compete at the Estadio Atlético de la Videna from Tuesday through Saturday.
Many of the athletes competing in Lima will be representing their country on the international stage for the first time, while others have already journeyed through the Paris Olympic Games on their way to Peru.
The list of Olympians set to compete for age-group honors after the Paris 2024 Games is extensive. It features athletes like Bradley Nkoana and Bayanda Walaza, who secured a silver medal for South Africa in the men’s 4×100 meters relay in Paris. Ethiopia’s Sembo Almayew, who placed fifth in the women’s 3000m steeplechase, is also among them.
Other notable names include Jamaica’s Alana Reid, who took part in the 4x100m, and Australia’s Torrie Lewis, who competed in the 200m and 4x100m at the Paris Olympics. However, the spotlight isn’t only on Olympians in Lima. Estonia’s Karmen Bruus (high jump), Uzbekistan’s Sharifa Davronova (triple jump), Ethiopia’s Medina Eisa (5000m) and Jamaica’s Kerrica Hill (100m hurdles) are all experienced competitors. They each claimed gold at the last edition of the competition in Cali in 2022 and are returning to defend their titles in the South American capital.
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The championship is truly significant in scale, with some of the largest teams coming from countries like the U.S., which has 100 athletes entered, Germany with 92 entries, and Australia with 68 entries. Team Nigeria, consisting of nine male and 11 female athletes, will face tough competition.
Among the male athletes are Caleb John, Okon Sunday, and Chidera Ezeakor, who will compete in the 100m. Gafari Badmus will take part in the 400m, while Caleb Joshua will join John and Sunday in the 200m. Goodluck Fiaku will compete in the high jump, and Oseiwe Salami will participate in the 400m hurdles. Tejiri Godwin and Joachim Uyovwiyoma will also team up with others for the 4x100m relay event.
Justina Eyakpobeyan, Chioma Nweke, and Precious Nzeakor will compete in the women’s 100m, with Obi Chukwuka and Prestina Ochonogor joining them for the 4x100m relay. Nzeakor will also compete in the 200m race alongside Ella Onojuvwevwo, while Taiwo Kudoro will take on the 400m hurdles.
In the 400m, Chioma Nwachukwu will team up with Favour Onyah and Onojuvwevwo. The 4x400m relay will feature Nwachukwu, Onyah, Kudoro, Onojuvwevwo, and Odot Udo. Rhoda Adisa will represent Nigeria in the 800m, while Ochonogor will also participate in the long jump event.
The Nigerian athletes are determined not only to surpass the country’s previous performances at the championships but also to advance their athletic careers.
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