Nigeria secures first gold medal at World U-20 Athletics Championship

Team Nigeria has won its first gold medal in the 4×400 meters mixed relay at the ongoing U-20 World Athletics (WA) Championship in Nairobi, Kenya.

The quartet of Chidera Johnson Nnamani, Deborah Opeyemi Oke, Imaobong Nse-Uko and Bamidele Ajayi claimed the gold for the nation with a championship record of 3:19.70 on Wednesday.

They also made history as the first winners of the event at the World U20 Championship, beating Poland (3:19.80) and India (3:20.60).

Nse-Uko has also qualified for the individual 400m final scheduled for Saturday.

This is just as the duo of Godson Oghenebrume and Praise Ofokwu booked their tickets for the 100m men and women’s finals scheduled for Tuesday.

Oghenebrume ran 10.22 seconds to win his semi final heat while Ofoku was also first in her heat, clocking 11.57 seconds.

In the men’s javelin throw, Team Nigeria’s Chinecherem Nnamdi threw a massive new personal best and Nigeria U20 record of 78.03m to qualify for the final.

The 19-year-old 2019 African games bronze medal winner beat his previous best of 73.24m to jump to the queue as one of the favourites for the gold medal.

Nigeria has never won a medal in the event at the World U20 Championship.

Chinecherem could make history on Friday when he will be participating in the final.