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Nigerian junior athletes bounce back, qualify for semis in 100m, 110m hurdles

By Gowon Akpodonor
21 July 2016   |   1:00 am
After missing the opening day’s events at the on-going IAAF World U-20 Championships in Poland due to poor flight schedule, Nigerian junior athletes bounced back yesterday ...
Solomon Ogba, the President, Athletics Federation of Nigeria

Solomon Ogba, the President, Athletics Federation of Nigeria

After missing the opening day’s events at the on-going IAAF World U-20 Championships in Poland due to poor flight schedule, Nigerian junior athletes bounced back yesterday to qualify for the semifinals of some of the events.

The team arrived the city of Bydgoszcz, Poland one day late, thereby missing some events after failing to connect a flight from Dubai to the competition venue. It was learnt the flight left Lagos to refuel in Accra, Ghana, on Monday, only to get to Dubai late, and in the process, missed the connecting flight to Poland.

But the Nigerians announced their presence yesterday, as Bashiru Abdullahi easily qualified for the semifinals in the men’s 110m hurdles in 13.72 seconds. In the 100m women’s event, Mercy Ntia-Obong also made it to the semifinal in 11.62 seconds. But it was not so good for the other Nigerian athlete in the women’s 100m, Aniekeme Alphonsus, who failed to qualify from Heat 5. She ran 11.85 seconds.

Speaking with The Guardian yesterday, President of Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), , said he tried his best in making sure the athletes arrived the venue on time. “Their late arrival in Poland was as a result of time wasted in Accra and there is nothing one could have done about it. But I am sure the athletes will make up for it.”

Ogba hinted that the team would only participate in one relay event, the men’s 4x400m, adding that some athletes including Samson Oghenevegba Nathaniel, Ojo Sunday Fatoyinbo, Fabian Ime Edoki and Omon Precious Ojeikere could not make the trip to Poland due to lack of fund. Their names appeared as Did not start (DNS), which might attract fine for Nigeria.

The Guardian recalls that athletes like Emmanuel Arowolo and Raymond Ekevwo, who were to run the men’s 100m heats on Tuesday morning were absent from the blocks due to the late arrival. Also, Praise Idamadudu and Yinka Ajayi missed out in the women’s 400m heats.

A total of 1,518 athletes, made up of 832 men and 686 women are taking part in the championship. It is the second-biggest for the age group to date, with the 2012 edition in Barcelona the only one to attract more, 1,566.

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