2024 World Athletics Relays: Can Okezie lead Nigeria to another historic outing in mixed 4x400m and men’s 4x400m relay finals?
Chidi Okezie made history at the African Games in Accra when he stormed to gold in the men’s 400m to become the first Nigerian man to win the full lap gold in Games history since Innocent Egbunike first did in 1987.
The 30 year old’s victory marked Nigeria’s first gold medal in the 400m event at the African Games in 37 years.
Okezie also inspired Nigeria to clinch two Paris Olympics ticket on the opening day of the 2024 World Athletics Relays in Nassau, Bahamas, running an incredible 44.78 third leg in the mixed relay and 44.46 in the 4x400m relay.
All eyes will be on the two-time Nigeria 400m champion in the finals of the mixed relay and men’s 4x400m relay events later on Sunday.
Nigeria has only won a gold medal at the World Athletics Relay and that was achieved in the now discontinued women’s 4x200m in 2015 when the quartet of Blessing Okagbare, Regina George, Dominique Duncan and Christy Udo ran 1:30.52 to beat Germany to the gold medal.
On Sunday, Okezie will be the man Nigerians will be looking up to for the top prize and the 4x400m mixed relay team will have to achieve this from lane eight while the they will run from lane one in the men’s 4x400m final.
