Eyakpobeyan is ninth Nigerian woman to qualify for World U20 100m final; Sunday injured, out

Justina Eyakpobeyan ran 11.56 to place second behind Jamaica’s Alana Reid (11.44) and secure a lane in Wednesday final of the World Athletics U20 Championships in Lima, Peru.

The 17-year-old has thus become the ninth Nigerian teenager to run in the final of the blue ribband event.

Tina Iheagwan and Mary Onyali made it to the final of the inaugural edition of the Championships in 1986 in Athens, Greece. While Iheagwan went on to win the gold medal, Onyali was disqualified for lane violation.

Nigeria did not present a finalist until 1998 in Annecy, France with the duo of Uduak Ekah and Funmilola Ogundana. Ekah made it to the podium after placing third while Ogundana was seventh.

Stella Silas (2010), Stella Silas (2010), Mercy Ntia-Obong (2016), Praise Ofoku (2021) and Tima Godbless also ran in the final of the event.

There will however be no Nigerian in the men’s 100m final after Okon Israel Sunday pulled out following an injury he sustained after running 10.48 to win his first-round heat.

He is also doubtful for the 4x100m relays.