The African Joint U18/U20 Athletics Championship have just concluded and the Nigerian athletes as usual put on a show. History has shown that Nigerian athletes that do well in this competition go on to achieve incredible feats. Since the last edition of the championships, those Gold medal athletes have developed into National Record Holders, African Record Holders, and Olympic Finalists in only a short few years. Here are the Top 5 performers at this year African U18/U20 Athletics Championships.
1. Faith Okwose
After her double Silver medal performance at the National Sports Festival back in December, expectations for this season rose for the youngster from Delta State. She was somehow able to exceed those expectation with her performance in Zambia. She shattered the Girls’ U18 100m Championship Record with a personal best of 11.53 seconds to snatch the Gold medal. She delivered once again in the 200m dash breaking the Championship Record set by Favour Ofili in 2019 storming to a personal best of 23.31 seconds. Her 200m time is the 2nd fastest time a U18 athlete has ran in the world this season. After helping secure a Gold medal in the U18 Distance Medley, Okwose carries home 3 Gold medals, 2 Championship Records, and a breakout performance for the ages.
2. Samuel Ogazi
Nigeria has a gem on their hands with this lad! After running 47.28 seconds to win the 400m dash at the Nigerian U18 Trials back in March, Ogazi leveled up big time during the games. He blazed to a personal best of 46.01 seconds to win the U18 final. This broke the Championship Record set in 2019, it is the fastest 400m time by a Nigerian this year, and the fastest U18 400m time in the world this season. He followed up his triumph by winning the U18 200m title with a time of 20.93 seconds, the 2nd fastest U18 200m time in the world. Capping off his championship with a gold medal in the U18 Distance Medley, he left the games with 3 Gold medals and a bright outlook as one of the top youth athletes in the world.
3. Tima Godbless
The U20 National Record Holder was the face of the Nigerian squad that journeyed to the games. All eyes were on her, and she did not disappoint. She cruised to a U20 Gold medal in the 100m dash running 11.45 seconds, with a season’s best 11.42 second run in the semifinals. As an encore she broke the Women’s U20 200m Championship Record running 23.38 seconds for the Gold sprint double title. We expect to see even more greatness from Godbless this season as she will likely emerge as one of the fastest women in the nation leading up to the World Championships.
4. Precious Irivi
This youngster is poised to be a breath of fresh air for the future of Nigerian male field events. Before this season Irivi was traditionally a High Jumper, but now has made the switch to the Triple Jump and it has paid off. He executed an incredible series of jumps in the Boys’ U18 Triple Jump event peaking at 15.74 meters which is a new Championship Record. Three out of his five recorded jumps would have broken the previous record of 15.18 meters set in 2013. This mark also gives Irivi the #1 mark in the world in the U18 Triple Jump this year.
5. Fejiro Odjoma
The reigning National Sports Festival Triple Jump Champion dominated the competition in Zambia. She sealed the Gold medal in the Girls’ U18 Triple Jump with a personal best of 12.69 meters. This feat sets a new Championship Record topping the one that was set in 2013. This mark is also Top 10 in the world on the U18 level of Girls’ Triple Jump. Odjoma appears to be one of the next stars in a long line of female Nigerian horizontal jumpers which includes Ese Brume, Ruth Usoro, Blessing Okagbare, and Chioma Ajunwa.
Honorable Mentions
Opeyemi Deborah Oke:
- 2 U20 Gold medals (Women’s 400m, Women’s 4x400m Relay) & U20 Mixed 4x400m Relay Silver medal
Grace Oshiokpu:
- 2 U20 Gold medals (Women’s Triple Jump, Women’s Long Jump)
Kayinsola Ajayi:
- 2 U20 Gold medals (Men’s 100m, Men’s 4x100m)
Tiana Eyakpobeyan:
- 2 U18 Silver Medals (Girls’ 100m, Girls’ 200m) & 1 U18 Gold Medal (Girls’ Distance Medley)
Charles Edward:
- U20 Long Jump Gold Medal
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