This archive report was first published on 19 August 2021.
On a day of impressive performances, Team Nigeria made history by winning the inaugural 4x400m mixed relay gold medal at the World U20 Championship. The quartet of Johnson Nnamani, Imaobong Nse Uko, Opeyemi Oke, and Bamidele Ajayi set a new Championship record time of 3:19.70, beating Poland (3:19.80) and India (3:20.60).
The team's victory marked the first time Nigeria has won the event at the World U20 Championship. The quartet's performance was all the more impressive given that they made one change to the team that ran a then-championship record of 3:21.66 in the semifinal, bringing in Nse Uko, the fastest girl in the quarter-mile coming to the championship.
Nse Uko, who has also qualified for the individual 400m final scheduled for Saturday, handed over the baton to Oke in first position, ensuring Nigeria's victory. The 17-year-old's performance has made her a favourite to restore Nigeria as World U20 champions, a title last held by Bisi Afolabi in 1994 in Lisbon, Portugal.
Meanwhile, the duo of Godson Oghenebrume and Praise Ofokwu qualified for the 100m men and women's final scheduled for Tuesday. Oghenebrume ran 10.22 seconds to win his semifinal heat, while Ofokwu was also first in her semifinal heat, clocking 11.57.
Team Nigeria's Chinecherem Nnamdi also made a significant impact, throwing a massive new personal best and Nigeria U20 record of 78.03 in the men's javelin throw to qualify for the final. The 19-year-old 2019 African Games bronze medal winner added almost 5cm to his previous best of 73.24m, making him a favourite for the gold medal.
