2024 World Athletics Relays: Nigeria 4x100m Relay Teams Secure Paris Olympics Tickets after second attempt
Men's team return to the Olympics after 16 year absence, women's to make ninth straight appearance
The Nigeria 4x100m relay teams have punched their tickets to the Paris Olympics in their second attempt after struggling Saturday, the opening day of the two day World Athletics Relays which is serving as the major qualifying event for the competition.
First to secure a passage to Paris is the women’s 4x100m team led by Nigeria’s 200m indoor and outdoor record holder, Ofili ran an incredible second leg to get Nigeria into a great position with reigning National Sports Festival double sprint champion, Tima Godbless anchoring home in first position ( 42.71) ahead of Switzerland who picked the second automatic ticket in the third qualifying heat.
What the women can, the men can surely do too but not better. A hugely depleted men’s quartet of Udodi Onwuzurike, Ekanem Emmanuel, Alaba Akintola and Karlington Anunagba who replaced Seye Ogunlewe ensured they did not fall twice as they coasted home in second place (38.57) behind Ghana (38.29) to pick the second autoamtic ticket to Paris.
While for the women, it will be their ninth straigh appearance at the Games punctuated by two podium appearances in 1992 (bronze) and 2008 (silver), it is a return to the big stage since 2008 in Beijing, China where the quartet of Onyeabor Ngwogu, Obinna Metu, Chinedu Oriala and Uchenna Emedolu failed to finish in the very first heat of the competition.
