Can Ezechukwu, Oyibu End Nigeria’s 40-Year Wait for World U20 Women’s 200m Gold?

Fresh from producing a sensational anchor leg to power Nigeria into the mixed 4x100m relay final, Oluebube Ezechukwu will switch her focus to the women’s 200m at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Oregon on Friday, determined to end Nigeria’s 40-year wait for gold in the event.

The teenage sprinter will be joined by compatriot Oghene Success Oyibu as Nigeria fields two strong medal hopefuls in the women’s half-lap.

Ezechukwu, who owns a personal best of 22.77 seconds, has been drawn in Heat Nine in lane seven alongside Australia’s Amaya Mearns, Canada’s Victoria Zolaturiuk and Serbia’s Una Jovanović.

Oyibu, with a lifetime best of 22.90 seconds, will compete in Heat Seven from lane two against Bulgaria’s Radina Velichkova, Spain’s Maria Portela and the rest of the field.

The first two finishers in each of the nine heats, along with the next nine fastest athletes overall, will progress to the semi-finals.

The pair will be aiming to write a new chapter in Nigeria’s rich history in the event.

Nigeria’s only World U20 women’s 200m title came at the inaugural championships in Athens in 1986 when Falilat Ogunkoya stormed to gold, while Mary Onyali completed a famous Nigerian one-two by taking silver.

Since that historic achievement four decades ago, only Favour Ofili has reached the podium, claiming bronze in Nairobi in 2021.

Buoyed by Ezechukwu’s outstanding relay performance and Oyibu’s impressive form this season, Nigeria will be hoping the talented duo can challenge for medals and restore the country’s place at the top of the women’s 200m at the World Athletics U20 Championships.