New NCAA high jump indoor champion, Adeshina tops AFN’s list of nine athletes for World Indoor Championships

Temitope Adeshina who made history Saturday in Virginia, USA as the first Nigerian woman to claim the high jump gold at the NCAA Division 1 indoor track and field championships tops list of nine athletes Athletics Federation of Nigeria, AFN, has registered to compete at the World Indoor Championships later this month in Nanjing, China.

The 26 year old will be looking forward to becoming the first Nigerian high jumper to make it to the podium in the history of the global event.

Also listed is another field eventer, rising star Prestina Ochonogor who will be competing in the long jump event.

The 18 year old who made it to the final of the Paris 2024 Olympics and the World U20 Championships last year will be hoping for another appearance in the final of another global event.

She was unable to ruffle any feathers at the NCAA indoor championships in Virginia on Friday but Prestina has proved to be a big occasion player.

For the men, Ezekiel Nathaniel will lead the charge.

The reigning African record holder in the world is also the second fastest in the 400m event so far this year and the 21 year old will fancy his chances of becoming the second Nigerian man after Sunday Bada (now late) to win the full lap gold at the event.

He will also lead the Nigerian 4x400m relay team to an historic medal in the event.

Also listed are Caleb Joshua who failed to fulfil expectations in the 60m event at the NCAA Division 11 indoor championships on Saturday, Chidi Okezie, the reigning African Games 400m champion, Ifeanyi Ojeli, Edidiong Okon Udo, James Onwuka and multiple African Shot Put champion, Chukwuebuka Enekwechi.

The athletes have been tasked to return Nigeria to the podium in the event three years after Ese Brume won a long jump silver.

Nigeria last mounted the podium as World champion in 2008 when Olusoji Fasuba made history as the first and so far only African man to win the 60m gold.