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Review of Team Nigeria on Day 1 of the World Relays in the Bahamas, led by an inspiring Chidi Okezie.
The first day at the World Relays in the Bahamas was a rollercoaster of performances for Team Nigeria, as Chidi Okezie led the 4x400m squads to Paris Olympic qualifications.
Starting with the mixed 4x400m, the quartet of Samuel Ogazi, Ella Onojuvwevwo, Okezie, and Esther Elo Joseph ran a tactical race to finish second in 3:13.79 and seal their ticket to Paris.
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Their split times were impressive as Ogazi clocked 45.69s, Onojuvwevwo in 50.45s, Okezie an outstanding 44.78s, and Joseph bringing it home in 52.87s.
USA's quartet of Matthew Boling, Lynna Irby-Jackson, Ryan Willie, and Kendall Ellis clocked a Championship Record of 3:11.52, while South Africa came third in 3:15.75.
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02:39 - 05.05.2024
World Relays: Nigeria's mixed 4x400m team seals ticket to Paris Olympic Games
Team Nigeria mixed 4x400m relay squad punched their automatic Paris Olympic qualifying ticket to Paris.
Less than two hours later, Okezie was back. This time, he ran an outstanding anchor leg to deliver the Olympic ticket in the men's 4x400m.
The African Games 400m champion led an iconic charge as the squad of Dubem Nwachukwu, Dubem Amene, Sikiru Adewale, and Okezie all ran the race of their lives to finish second in a Season's Best (SB) of 3:01.70 - Nigeria's fastest time in twenty years.
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05:32 - 05.05.2024
World Relays: Unbelievable Chidi Okezie inspires 4x400m squad to Paris Olympic qualification for the first time in 20 years
Team Nigeria's men's 4x400m squad punched their ticket to the Olympic Games for the first time in 20 years.
Belgium conveniently won the heat also in an SB of 3:00.09, and Jamaica was third in an SB of 3:02.46.
Securing their spot in Paris means Nigeria will return to the event at the Olympics for the first time since Athens 2004, where the team anchored by Enefiong Udo-Obong won a bronze medal.
It wasn't the same scenario for the Nigerian men's and women's 4x100m relay teams as they failed to finish in the top two positions for the Olympic automatic qualifying ticket.
In the women's 4x100m, the squad of Tinna Eyakpobeyan, Favour Ofili, Olayinka Olajide, and Tima Godbless settled for the third position in 43.15s behind the USA in 42.21s and France in 43.09s.
Likewise, an underwhelming performance in the men's category saw them finish fifth in 38.49s despite a strong start from Udodi Onwuzurike and Consider Ekanem handing the baton over in a strong second position. but Alaba Akintola and Seye Ogunlewe were unable to close it out.
Notwithstanding, both teams have the chance to redeem themselves in the repechage on Day 2, where they'll be fighting for the top two positions in their heats to make the final top 14 countries.
With the first and most important job done, the mixed 4x400m and men's 4x400m relay squads will be back on Day 2 for the finals to try and secure a medal and cap off an outstanding World Relays outing.
Meanwhile, the women's 4x400m team DID NOT START due to the unavailability of a complete squad.
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