‘What Could Miracle Ezechukwu Have Done?’ False Start Denies Nigeria World U20 Relay Glory
Nigeria’s women’s 4x100m relay nightmare at the World U20 Championships has continued, with the quartet of Lucy Chiamaka Nwankwo, Oghene Success Oyibu, Chigozie Rosemary Nwankwo and Oluebube Ezechukwu disqualified for a false start in Sunday’s final in Oregon.
The disqualification, recorded under World Athletics Rule TR16.8, meant Nigeria never got the chance to contest the final and extended a remarkable run of relay disappointments at three consecutive World U20 Championships.
In 2022, Nigeria dropped the baton; in 2024, the team was disqualified after an exchange was completed outside the takeover zone; and in 2026, the hopes of the quartet ended before the race had properly begun after the false start.
The latest setback was particularly painful because Ezechukwu was due to run the anchor leg.
The Nigerian had already produced one of the standout individual performances of the championships, and the World Athletics commentators repeatedly highlighted the excitement surrounding what she could potentially produce on the final leg.
Instead, the world was denied the opportunity to see Ezechukwu unleash her speed against the best U20 relay teams in the world.
Jamaica went on to win the final in a World U20-leading 42.89 seconds, with Switzerland taking silver in 43.36 and Belgium bronze in a national U20 record of 43.91.
