2024 World Athletics Relays: Okezie inspires Nigeria to new African 4x400m mixed relay record, $8,000 prize money
African Games 400m champion Chidi Okezie looks destined for great things at the Paris Olympics after running a spirited third leg to inspire the mixed 4x400m relay team to a a new 3:12.87 African record.
Okezie was not in the 2023 African Games quartet (Ifeanyi Emmanuel Ojeli, Patience Okon George, Sikiru Adeyemi and Omolara Ogunmakinju) that ran 3:13.26 to improve on the 3:13.60 African record the quartet of Ojeli, Imaobong Nse Uko, Samson Nathaniel and Okon George ran to set an African record at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
On Sunday in Nassau, Bahamas, the quartet of Samuel Ogazi, Ella Onojuvwevwo, Okezie and Esther Elo Joseph has not only set a new Afican record but also earned a princely sum of $8,000 for coming fourth in the final.
In Paris, France this summer, the team will be looking to improve on their first round exit three years ago despite setting an African record.
Meanwhile, the men’s 4x400m relay team finished in eighth position in 3:16.68 as a tired Okezie was unable to inspire the other three Nigerian heroes (Dubem Nwachukwu, Dubem Amene and Sikiru Adeyemi ) who a day earlier had picked Nigeria’s first Olympics ticket in the event in 20 years.
