The first ever World Relay Championships kick off in the Bahamas this weekend (May 24th/25th) and Team Nigeria will be there in full force! Nigeria has a 24-man contingent competing for Medals at the first ever World Relays, which has a total prize fund of $1.4 million (that’s ₦230 million)! The heats for the 4x100m and 4x400m especially promise to be loaded, given that the 8 teams that reach the finals of those events will qualify automatically for the Relays at the 2015 World Championships! Making of Champions will be covering the competition LIVE & DIRECT from the Bahamas, so stay tuned for updates throughout the weekend!
Below is the full LIVE schedule for Nigerian viewers to tune in to watch Team Naija compete. For the first time ever, not only can you catch the competition on TV (SuperSports), you will be able to stream it LIVE on the internet, from the IAAF Official YouTube Channel! The detailed timings that follow are ONLY for the events Team Nigeria is competing in – men’s and women’s 4x100m, 4x200m & 4x400m (Heats and possibly Finals for each) – that’s up to 12 races in total, to cheer on Team Nigeria! (For the full schedule, which also includes the 4x800m & 4x1500m events, please click here)
Below is Nigeria’s full team list and what events they will be competing in – it came out a couple of weeks ago, and though it has not been as anticipated as the Super Eagles final 23-man list for the World Cup, here it is nonetheless! The highlight for Team Nigeria will undoubtedly be to see whether Blessing Okagbare can lead the women to medals in the 4x100m and 4x200m Relays – we’ll be watching closely!
Women’s 4x100m: Blessing Okagbare, Gloria Asumnu, Peace Uko & Endurance Abinuwa
Women’s 4x200m: Regina George, Blessing Okagbare, Gloria Asumnu, Peace Uko & Endurance Abinuwa
Women’s 4x400m: Regina George, Patience Okon George, Omolara Omotosho, Bukola Abogunloko, Folashade Abugan & Amaka Ogoegbunam
Men’s 4x100m: Ogho-Oghene Egwero, Obinna Metu, Nicolas Imhoaperamhe, Elvis Ukale & Divine Oduduru
Men’s 4x200m: Noah Akwu, Ogho-Oghene Egwero, Obinna Metu, Elvis Ukale & Divine Oduduru
Men’s 4x400m: Noah Akwu, Amaechi Morton, Orukpe Erayokan, Omeiza Akerele, Tobi Ogunmola & Isah Salihu
* The latest reports suggest that up to 6 of Nigeria’s athletes have been hit with injuries, though it should be noted that only 2 of them, Obinna Metu and Bukola Abogunloko appear in the above list. Let’s hope that this does not adversely affect Team Nigeria’s chances this weekend! Here is a video which shows what one Bahamian Athletics Official thinks about who is going to dominate at the World Relays, and what he thinks about Nigeria’s chances!
