Athletics Federation of Nigeria names 22 athletes for World Championships

Africa’s fastest woman Blessing Okagbare and former national sprint king, Ogho-Oghene Egwero, top the list of athletes representing Nigeria at the 2015 World Championships holding in Beijing, China, from August 22 to 30.

Egwero and Okagbare, who was absent at the All Nigeria Athletics Championships in Warri, Delta State last week, remain Nigeria’s only representatives in the 100 metres events, as their teammates failed to make the IAAF standards.

Okagbare will feature in the women’s 100m and 4x100m events, Gloria Asumnu and Ngozi Onwumere will compete in the 200m, while Stephanie Kalu, Deborah Odeyemi and Cecilia Francis will complete the team in the women’s 4x100m event.

Patience Okon, Regina George, Oluwatosin Adeloye, Etim Margaret, Funke Oladoye and Rita Ossai make up the 400m and 4x400m team; while Amaka Ogoegbunam competes in the women’s 400m hurdles.

Doreen Amata will fly the flag in the women’s high jump, and Ese Brume, who finished second in the women’s long jump at the national trials, will get another chance to shine on the world stage in Beijing.

Lindsay Weyimi (100m hurdles), Chinwe Okoro (discus) and Uhunoma Osazuwa (heptathlon) complete the women’s list.

Also in the men’s team is Tega Odele, who shocked former sprint champions Egwero and Obinna Metu to win the men’s 200m event on Friday with a personal best of 20.47 seconds.

US-based Tyron Akins will be competing in the men’s 110m hurdles, while the 400m hurdles will feature Ukaoma Miles, who set a new national record of 48.84 seconds on Friday to become Nigeria’s third fastest hurdler after Henry Amike and Amaechi Morton.

Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games triple jump gold medallist, Tosin Oke, also made the list after qualifying for the World Championships with a season best of 16.98m, which won him gold at the national championships in Warri last week.

Credit: Punch Sport