Nigeria’s hope of winning a medal at World Athletics U-20 Championships now hangs on the shoulders of Ella Onojuvwevwo who raced into the final of the women’s 400m after long jumper, Prestina Ochonogor failed to least repeat her 6.79m lifetime best which she achieved at the U.J Esuene stadium in Calabar, Cross River state in April.
She finished with 6.21m in the fifth round leaving
Australia’s Delta Amidzovski who leaped a distance of 6.58m in the fifth round to win the gold with USA’s Sophia Beckmon second with her 6.54m fifth round effort while Poland’s Julia Adamczyk also relied on her fifth-round jump (6.34m) to win the bronze.
Justina Eyakpobeyan also failed to fulfil expectations as she came in seventh (11.63) in the women’s 100m final won by pre-race favourite, Jamaica’s Alana reid (11.17) with British Virgin Islands Adaejah Hodge second (11.27) and Kishawna Niles of Barbados third (11.37).
Star girl, Onojuvwewvo however fulfilled expectations by picking one of the two automatic tickets on offer for the final in a semifinal heat that looks like a dress rehearsal for the final with all three pre-Championships favourites in action.
The fastest in the group pre-Championships at 50.52, Lurdes Gloria Manuel of the Czech Republic won in 51.91 and was followed by Onojuvwewvo, who is also the second fastest coming to the championships second in 51.99 while USA’s Michaela Mouton, the third fastest (50.96) coming to Lima ran 52.72 to place third.