Team Nigeria relay teams may pick Budapest slot in Lagos
We learnt that the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) seek to invite two countries within the West African Coast to compete at the Lagos Athletics Club Series final which holds on Friday in Lagos where they will attempt to run faster than they did in Lome, Togo at the weekend.
Team Nigeria is among the countries fighting for eight qualification slots after the eight that ran in the final of the event in Oregon, USA last year got automaticatic qualification for Budapest 2023.
The Nigerians look to have only Kenya (3:02.02, 14th), Barbados (3:02.12, 15th) and the Dominican Republic (3:02.19, 16th) in their sight and will first have
to run faster than the Dominican Republic to stand a chance of qualifying.
Sources have it that the men’s 4x100m and 4x400m as well as the women’s 4x400m relay teams failed in their attempt to secure slots at the World Championships in Budapest.
Meanwhile, a quick response by the President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, (AFN) Chief Tonobok Okowa who upon learning the unpleasant news of Precious Okonye, a 110m hurddler who broke his leg during the National Athletics Championships in Benin immediately responded with funds.
The AFN President had to dole out N500,000 with promises to be on the look out in case other need arises for the surgery. This effort is Presidential.
