Ochonogor becomes fourth Nigerian to leap into World U20 Long Jump final

African Games bronze medalist, Prestina Oluchi Ochonogor has become the fourth Nigerian woman to leap into the long jump final at the World Athletics U20 Championships.

The 18-year-old leapt a distance of 6.28m to confirm her place among the 12 athletes that will compete for podium appearances in the final.

Chioma Ajunwa (1990), Esther Aghatise (2002) and Ruth Agadama (2021) are the three Nigerians who have made it to the final with only Aghatise going on to make it to the podium after winning the bronze medal.

Ochonogor confirmed her status with her second jump of the competition after opening with 5.95m which could have gotten her into the final and took the lead with her second until Spain’s Laura Martinez leapt a 6.37m personal season’s best to finish as top of the two qualifying groups.

The Spaniard has now jumped in front of the queue as one of the favourites for the three medals on offer alongside pre-Championships favourites, Nigeria’s Ochonogor, USA’s Sophia Beckmon who sealed her spot in the final with 6.16m effort and Elizabeth Ndudi of Ireland who managed to squeeze herself into the final after only managing a 5.95m jump.

in the women’s 100m, Tianna Eyakpobeyan ran 11.61 to place third and qualify for the semifinals in her heat while Chioma Cynthia Nweke ran a disappointing 12.24 to place sixth in her heat and crash out.

For the men, Chidera Ezeakor crashed out after running 10.92 to finish seventh in the second heat while Okon Israel Sunday expectedly won his heat with 10.48 seconds.

Meanwhile, the mixed 4x400m relay quartet of Nigeria U20 Oseiwe Salami, Odot Effiong Udo, Gafari Badmus and Favour Onyah ran 3:25.59 to place third in their semifinal heat. It was however not enough to get them over the line as one of the two fastest qualifiers.