What an exciting way for Team Nigeria to kick off their World Relays outing in Bahamas as they punched their Olympic ticket in the mixed 4x400m relay in their return to the Championships after a five-year hiatus.
The quartet of Samuel Ogazi, Ella Onojuvwevwo, Chidi Okezie, and Esther Elo Joseph competed in the second heat, which included the reigning World Champions, USA, Bahrain, and South Africa.
Ogazi ran a tactical race despite overcoming a sluggish start to hand the baton in 2nd place to Onojuvwevwo who went neck and neck with USA’s Lynna Irby Jackson throughout the course of her race, then over to the reigning African Games 400m Champion, Okezie who overtook the lead from USA after going past Ryan Willie in the bend with fastest overall split of 44.78s.
Joseph held on to the lead achieved by her teammate up until the first 100m where Kendall Elis geared through to retake the lead, bringing the stick round in a Championships Record (CR) of 3:11.52 while Team Nigeria placed 2nd with a time of 3:13.79, which automatically sealed their spot at the Olympics for the second consecutive time. South Africa was 3rd in 3:15.95 while Bahrain Did Not Finish(DNF)
Team Nigeria will return on Day 2 with the hopes of winning a medal in the final.
