President of Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Chief Tonobok Okowa has charged the country’s youth athletes to stay focused at the ongoing global under-20 championship in Eugene, USA, so that they will pick better results along the way.
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Sports247 reports that Okowa’s message coincided with a shaky start Team Nigeria had to the championship, as some prospects in the 15-member squad could not make it beyond the preliminary rounds at Hayward Field, where the mixed 4x400m quartet also failed to surmount all odds.
The relay team of Dominion Udoh, Jecinta Lawrence, Perfect Faye and Faith Ezechukwu finished sixth in their heat with a time of 3:26.35, thereby missing out on qualification, while men’s 100m competitor, Gift Bright placed fifth in the seventh heat with 10.60 and was eliminated.
However, Chigozie Rosemary Nwankwo advanced to the women’s 100m semi-finals after clocking 11.57s to finish third in her preliminary heat, thereby giving Nigeria some comfort on the opening day, much to the delight of Okowa, who is also the senior vice-president of Confederation of African Athletics (CAA).
Okowa, who is also the president of CAA Region 2, then urged the Nigerian athletes to step up their efforts and be worthy ambassadors of the country in their pursuit of glory, while also advising thm to compete with discipline, determination and the true spirit of sportsmanship.
While reminding them that they are representing over 200 million Nigerians on the global stage, Okowa expressed confidence in the ability of the athletes to excel, noting that they have prepared well for the competition and they possess enough talent to challenge for honours against the world’s best junior athletes.
Okowa also wished the athletes and officials a successful championship, while expressing hope that the contingent will return home with excellent results, pull off outstanding performances and get a horde of medals that would further enhance the country’s reputation in global athletics.
In Thursday’s line-up of events, Jessica Oji got into the women’s shot put final with a best throw of 17.56 metres, thereby comfortably surpassing the automatic qualifying mark to finish first overall in the standings.
Having switched allegiance to Nigeria earlier this year, the talented shot putter has continued to make headlines with a series of outstanding performances on the international stage.
Her qualification gives Nigeria another medal prospect at the championships, as the nation’s contingent continues its quest for podium finishes in Eugene, Oregon.
The silver medallist at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland will now aim to improve in the final, as she chases a historic medal for Nigeria in the women’s shot put and Okowa is looking on with great expectations.
“I may not be with you in Eugene, but my heart is with every member of Team Nigeria. Go out there, compete with confidence, remain focused, be good ambassadors of our great nation, and make Nigeria proud at the end of the championships,” Okowa submitted.
