The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has expressed optimism that Nigeria’s athletes in the forthcoming World Athletics Championships and Commonwealth Games will post podium performances.
The federation’s Technical Director, Samuel Onikeku told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin that their optimism comes from the milestones achieved during the trials for the two international events.
The combined trials organized by the AFN took place at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin from Thursday to Saturday, and Onikekun said the trials went down well, with some superlative performances, seen in the 100 women’s meters won in a time of 11.03 seconds, and a sub-10 seconds in men’s 100 metres
.Onikeku said it has been about 2 decades now, that Nigeria Athletics has had such a time in the men’s 100m, and the winning time of 9.9 Seconds means the competition went well.
He added that Team Nigeria also did well with the 4x100m men, to sneak in for qualification, and hopes no other country would be able to upstage the team, for now.
The AFN technical chief disclosed that the Nigerian contingent would soon be heading to the US. to camp ahead of the world championships in Oregon in July.
He said the camping will benefit the entire team a lot, but the relay teams need it more, being that they have not really been together and practicing for 10 to 12 days will help them run better.
Onikeku said AFN was hopeful the team would get to the final of the event and be in with a chance of winning a medal.
Speaking on the absence of Favour Ofili at the trials, he said the athlete had sent in a medical report, which was still being reviewed.