It was a Friday to remember for Team Nigeria at the ongoing African Championships in Durban, South Africa, with the country winning two GOLD medals on Day 3 of the competition.

With South Africa dominating the championships, and Ivory Coast cementing the 100m categories, many were left wondering when Nigeria would show up and wield its muscles as a powerhouse in African Athletics.

When it did come, it was a clean sweep as Nigeria made it a 1-2-3 to win the women’s Discus. Nwanneka Okwelogu threw the farthest of 56.75m to win GOLD with Chinwe Okoro taking Silver in 55.67m and Chioma Onyekwere completing Nigeria’s place on the podium with her 3rd place finish throwing a distance of 53.91m.

Nwanneka Okwelogu led the way for Nigeria in women's Discus
Nwanneka Okwelogu led the way for Nigeria in women’s Discus
Rio 2016, 2016 African Athletics
Chioma Onyekwere after collecting her Bronze medal in the women’s Discus.
Chinwe Okoro while competing in the women's Discus
Chinwe Okoro while competing in the women’s Discus

It was a performance that rubbed off on another Nigerian athlete Ese Brume who retained her Long Jump title with a winning jump of 6.57m. Brume opened up her jump at 6.54m, but she was largely untroubled as she led from start to finish. She defeated the Cameroon duo of Joelle Sandrine Mbumi who finished 2nd with 6.39m and Marlyne Sarah Ngongoa 3rd with 6.34m.

Ese Brume made it back to back wins in the African Championships.
Ese Brume made it back to back wins in the African Championships.

Just this month, Brume qualified for the Rio Olympics winning in Akure going a distance of 6.83m, a new PB for her. The commonwealth champion would hope to get better with the Olympics just weeks away.

Meanwhile in both 400m finals, Patience Okon George and Chidi Okezie also increased Nigeria’s haul with Bronze medals from their categories. Okon George went out strongly and looked like she would take GOLD, however Zambia’s Kabange Mupopo finished up better, racing through to win in 51.56s. Kenya’s Margaret Nyairera won Silver in 52.24s.

Patience Okon George doesn't look too happy about winning Bronze
Patience Okon George doesn’t look too happy about winning Bronze

In the men’s category, Okezie sensed an opportunity and went for it, clocking 45.76s as he overtook Isaac Makwala and preventing the men’s 400m from being a Botswanan 1-2-3. Baboloki Thebe won the race in 44.69s and Karabo Sibanda 2nd in 45.42s

Chidi Okezie having a look at his Bronze medal
Chidi Okezie having a look at his Bronze medal

In the men’s 400m Hurdles, Miles Ukaoma ran a good first 300m and was even in the lead but faded after the 9th barrier and finishing 8th, however he was later disqualified by the officials.

Meanwhile in the men’s 110m Hurdles, Tyron Akins will be hoping he can defend his title, running the fastest time of the two heats to win heat 2 in 13.62s.

Tyrone will be hoping he could retain his 110mH title.
Tyrone will be hoping he could retain his 110mH title.

The Nigerian team will be confident of Uhunoma Osazuwa taking the Heptathlon, as she won two of her four events on Thursday, with the remaining three coming up on Saturday.

Osazuwa finished 2nd in the 100m Hurldes with a time of 13.32s, going on to dominate the High Jump with a winning mark of 1.83m. She finished 3rd in the Shot Put, but ended day one of her events with a win in the 200m, running a time of 24.19s.

Uhunoma Osazuwa racing through to the finish line in the 200m-Heptathlon.
Uhunoma Osazuwa racing through to the finish line in the 200m-Heptathlon.

With the Javelin, Long Jump and 800m still to come, Osazuwa would hope to consolidate and clinch another GOLD for Nigeria on Day 4 of the African Championships.

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Athletics coverage was a discovery, having to move away from regularly writing about Football. Although it was initially daunting, but now being an authority in it makes the past effort worthwhile. From travelling on the same international flight with Nigerian athletes, to knowing you could easily interview: World Record holder Tobi Amusan, then Ese Brume, I have cut my teeth in this beat earning the trust of Athletics sources. Formerly the Content Manager-Sports at Ringier media Nigeria, Chris is a Senior Sports writer, Photographer & Community manager at Making of Champions.

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