Tokyo Olympics: Nigeria’s mixed 4x400m relay team sets new African record

Despite setting a new African record, Nigeria on Friday failed to qualify for the final of the 4×400m mixed relay at the ongoing Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

The quartet of Emmanuel Ojeli, Imaobong Nse Uko, Samson Nathaniel and Patience Okon-George set a new African Record (AR) of 3:13.60 to finish 5th in their semi-final race.

Speaking on the feat, Okon-George said despite the team’s failure to qualify for the final, they are excited by the record set at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo.

“The last race we ran back in June was 3:14.09 and the 3:13.60 we ran today is good. We are happy with the new African Record,” Okon-George said.

“It was not easy running with 43second runners on the anchor leg. Now that we haven’t made it to the final, I’m just going to be focused and get ready for the 400m. I think I’m good to go.”

Emmanuel Ojeli also relished the fact that the quartet made history by becoming the first African team to qualify for and compete at the Olympics in the event.

“We have been trying so hard to qualify in the 4x400m men and women so when we heard that the Mixed Relays was going to hold, we just needed to put ourselves together to qualify for the event. We are the first African team to qualify for the event at the Olympics and ran an African Record as well,” he said.

The four athletes will now set their sights towards qualifying for next year’s World Championships in Oregon, USA.