Nigerian athletes make unimpressive start at IAAF world indoor championships

Nigerian athletes on Friday in Portland, U.S. made an unimpressive start to the commencement of major competition at the four-day 2016 IAAF World Indoor Championships.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Chidi Okezie and Orukpe Eraiyokan failed to advance in the men’s 400 metres event.

While Okezie finished third in his heat and still failed to qualify for the semi-finals, Eraiyokan did not even start the race in heat two.

Okezie had a time of 47.05 in heat four, but it was not enough to get him a place among the semi-finalists from a field of 30 in five heats.

In the men’s 60 metres, Ogho-Oghene Egwero also failed to advance to the semi-finals in spite of recording a season best 6.75 seconds after finishing fifth in heat one.

Stephen Mozia equally failed to make an impact in the men’s shot put after placing 12th in a field of 19, with a heave of 19.84 in his first attempt.

Eraiyokan however still has a chance to redeem himself as he returns to the tracks with the Nigerian men’s 4×400 metres team on Saturday evening.

Also on Saturday night, Olu Olamigoke and Tosin Oke will be competing in the men’s triple jump, while Doreen Amata will be campaigning for honours in the women’s high jump.