Wednesday, December 25, 2024
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Nigeria Kick Off Monitor and Discipline Medal Chase With Blended Relays, Throws

Max Victory
By Max Victory
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Paris — Because the observe and subject occasions of the Paris 2024 Olympic Video games started yesterday morning, Nigerians shall be trying enthusiastically in the direction of the nation’s blended 4x400m relay crew to provide craving compatriots one thing to cheer within the face of fading hopes in a few of the occasions already concluded.

The blended quartet might want to surpass the three:12.87 African file they set in ending fourth on the World Relays in Might within the Bahamas to safe a lane in Saturday’s remaining.

Right this moment, the Nigerians quartet have been drawn within the second semifinal warmth launched Wednesday by World Athletics forward of the occasion in the present day and can battle for one of many three automated qualification tickets with Nice Britain, Netherlands, Italy, Eire and the Dominican Republic.

Three of the international locations, Italy (3:10.69), Netherlands (3:10.73) and Eire (3:09.92) have ran sooner than Nigeria this 12 months whereas Nice Britain have the strongest squad within the group.

The Britons have at their disposal the quickest man within the 400m this 12 months, Matthew Hudson-Smith who’s certainly one of simply two athletes to have gone beneath 44 seconds this 12 months (43.74) in addition to two different males, Charles Dobson (44.23) and Samuel Reardon (44.70) they’ll name on and who’ve each damaged 45 seconds this 12 months.

On the ladies’s facet, they’ve two athletes, Amber Anning (49.51) and Laviai Nielsen (49.87) who’ve damaged 50 seconds this 12 months and ‘Nigerian’, Victoria Ohuruogu (50.76) who can also be obtainable.

The Irish, full with their ‘Nigerian’ star, Rhasidat Adeleke, edged Nigeria to the bronze medal within the Bahamas to set a brand new 3:11.53 nationwide file. Since then, Adeleke has set a brand new 49.20 lifetime finest and could be the distinction in Paris.

The Dutch are one other crew that can rely closely on 400m hurdles runner, Femke Bol who ensured they got here second behind the USA on the World Relays in Might.

The Dominican Republic will hope Marileidy Paulino, the reigning world champion who led them to the Blended 4x400m relay gold in 2022 on the World Athletics Championships, can get them throughout the end line into the ultimate whereas the Italians who’ve run sooner than Nigeria this 12 months will hope Luca Sito, who has executed a 44.75 this 12 months and ‘Nigerian’, Ayomide Folorunsho, the 400m hurdles runner who they’ll name upon can see them too.

Earlier than the relays, excessive jumper, Temitope Adeshina, will take to the sphere of Stade de France at 10.15 am this morning to kickstart her marketing campaign for a medal.

Adeshina, 25, is making her debut on the Video games and shall be searching for to not solely turn into the primary Nigerian girl to qualify for the ultimate of the occasion after three futile makes an attempt by Doreen Amata in 2008, 2012 and 2016 but additionally the primary climb to the rostrum.

To do this, Adeshina must equal the 1.97m lifetime finest and Nigeria file she set on the NCAA Out of doors Championships in Eugene, Oregon, USA in June or be among the many high 12 finishers if sufficient athletes don’t make the qualification customary set by World Athletics for the occasion.

The Nigerian has cleared 1.95m and above thrice this season and hope she will do it once more to qualify for Sunday’s remaining.

Adeshina shall be adopted by the trio of Discus throwers, Ashley Anumba, Chioma Onyekere and Pamela Obiageri Amaechi who’re all making historical past with their debut on the Video games.

The primary Nigerian who competed within the occasion on the Video games, Chinwe Okoro didn’t get by means of the qualifying stage and an analogous destiny has been predicted for the trio.

Reigning African Athletics Championships champion, Anumba and African Video games queen, Amaechi should throw properly past their private finest to safe tickets to the ultimate of the occasion when it begins on Friday night.

Anumba holds a lifetime better of 61.98m and has executed a 61.00m this 12 months whereas Amaechi set a brand new lifetime better of 63.17m this 12 months however they need to now up their sport and throw no less than 64.00m to make certain of qualification or be among the many high 12 from the 2 qualifying teams.

The third Nigerian within the occasion, African file holder at 64.96m, Chioma Onyekwere solely must throw 96m decrease than her lifetime finest to safe her passage however the 30-year-old has solely thrown 61.35m private season’s finest this 12 months and has not hit the 62m mark since she set the African file in April final 12 months.

No Nigerian girl has made the ultimate of this occasion and the trio of Anumba, Amaechi and Onyekwere shall be seeking to make historical past once more just like the duo of Amaechi Onyekwere did on the Commonwealth Video games in Birmingham, United Kingdom in 2022 with Onyekwere climbing the rostrum as Nigeria’s first ever girl to be topped as Commonwealth Video games champion within the occasion.

The chances are nonetheless closely stacked towards the trio who should take their sport to a brand new stage.

It is not going to be an all-women’s affair on the opening day of competitors for Nigerian athletes as Shot Putter, Chukwuebuka Enekwechi can also be billed to compete.

Three-time African champion ought to, nonetheless, haven’t any drawback qualifying for his second straight Olympic remaining when the occasion holds Friday night.

The 31-year-old is making his second look on the Video games and shall be assured of throwing properly above the 21.35m qualification mark set by World Athletics for the 12 males that can proceed to Saturday’s remaining.