Nigeria’s mixed relay team has taken a step closer to qualifying for the Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, following a spirited victory in the ongoing qualification competition at Prairie View A& M University, Texas, USA, megasportsarena.com reports.
Team Nigeria outing in Texas became imperative after the country missed participation at the World Relays Championship in Poland two weeks ago due to visa issues, but the nation’s team appeared that setback behind them, as they lined out for their first race in the US Relay Tour.
A sigh of relief came from officials of Nigeria Athletics Federation (AFN), as victory came for the relay team, after Grace Nwokocha and Joy Udo-Gabriel featured in the women’s 100m, while Enoch Adegoke, Jeremiah Jakpa and Godson Oke Oghenebrume ran in the men’s 100m.
For the men’s 200m, Jeremiah Jakpa was Nigeria’s sole representative, same as Haisha Bisiolu in women’s 200m, while Praise Idamadudu, Imaobong Nse Uko and Patience Okon George ran in the women’s 400m.
Sikiru Adeyemi, Samson Nathaniel and Ifeanyi Ojeli were the country’s runners in men’s 400m, while Timothy Emoghene was the West African nation’s sole runner in the men’s 400m hurdles, even as Nigeria and Japan were the only countries listed in what is officially known as the PVAMU Invitational.
The Nigerian athletes, though, also competed with some American clubs, including Jamp Smart Texas, Nike Red Bull, Adidas, Athletics TX, Dreamchasersz, Elite Performance TC, Houston Elite, Texas Southern and Tracksmith.
Nigeria’s top duo of Blessing Okagbare and Divine Oduduru were listed for the mixed relay but did not turn up for the event as expected, though officials believe they would be available for the next outing on May 18 at AP Ranch in Dallas, USA as well as another scheduled for May 25.
Team Nigeria’s last relay event in the tour of USA will hold on May 29 in Florida, but some of the country’s other athletes that are also listed for the competition are reportedly still holed up in their hotel rooms in Abuja awaiting American entry visas.
AFN secretary, Niyi Beyioku, however, stressed that the athletes, among whom are Alaba Akintola, who won the men’s 200m gold medal at the recent National Sports Festival, and Seye Ogunlewe, who did not compete in Benin City, would depart as soon as their visas were ready.
This comes at a point some Nigerian track and field legends based in the US slammed the AFN for failing to register the country’s athletes in the Mt. SAC Relays, which held at Hilmer Lodge Arena in Walnut, California on Sunday.
The Mt. SAC Relays, one of only two gold level competitions in the United States, was part of the 2021 USATF Grand Prix Series and it featured many of the world’s best track and field athletes on their road to the Tokyo Olympic Games.
AFN factional president, Olamide George, who led the Nigerian delegation to the USA, refused to comment on the development, while the ministry of sports media officer, John Joshua Akanji simply concentrated on celebrating the team’s victory at the mixed relays.
Akanji posted on social media: “@NigeriaOlympic relay team inching close to @Tokyo2020 by winning the first leg of several relay races lined up in the USA after missing out of the world Relay race in Poland. Welldone @NigeriaOlympic.”
