Team Nigeria has attributed its disappointing exit from the mixed 4×400m relay at the 2026 World U-20 Athletics Championship in Eugene, Oregon, to the team’s late arrival and limited recovery time before competition.
The Nigerian quartet of Jecinta Lawrence, Faith Ezechukwu, David Udoh and Perfect Faye finished sixth in their heat in a time of 3:26.35, missing out on qualification for the final.
Only the top three teams in each heat advanced to the medal race, leaving Nigeria unable to defend the title it won at the inaugural edition of the mixed 4×400m event in Nairobi in 2021.
Speaking after the race, Ezechukwu admitted that the team’s preparation was affected by the limited time available for rest following their arrival in Eugene.
“Had it been we arrived earlier, we would have done better. We had less time to rest, but we thank God. We still have other events, and we are hoping to get in the groove and give our best,” Ezechukwu said.
The early relay setback adds to a challenging opening day for Team Nigeria in Eugene, with the country also missing out on the men’s and women’s 100m finals.
However, Nigeria’s campaign is far from over, with several athletes still expected to compete in their respective individual events.
The athletes will now turn their attention to those competitions, with Ezechukwu and her teammates determined to put the disappointment behind them and deliver stronger performances for Nigeria.
Nigeria’s mixed 4×400m team had entered the championship with a strong pedigree in the event, having made history by winning the inaugural World U-20 title in Nairobi four years ago.
The focus now shifts to Nigeria’s remaining medal hopefuls as the championship continues in Eugene.
