Nigeria, alongside South Africa, are the only country yet to win a medal as of Day 3 of the ongoing Oregon 2022 World Championships.
Out of the 21 participating countries, Nigeria is currently placed 21st while South Africa is 20th on the medals table.
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The United States leads the medal table with 14 medals while Ethiopia and Poland are placed second and third respectively with 3 medals.
Four Nigerian athletes competed on the third day (yesterday) of the Championships, in the women’s 400m, men’s 400m, women’s 100m, and men’s Shot Put.
Grace Nwokocha competed in the first heat of the women’s 100-metre semi-finals, finishing fourth with a timing of 11.16 seconds. Shericka Jackson, the eventual world silver medalist in the event, won the race, which she had run to earn a spot in the semi-finals.
Imaobong Nse Uko, who participated in the morning session, ran in the fourth heat of the 400-metre women’s race and came in eighth with a time of 52.80s.
In the men’s 400m semifinal, Nathaniel Ezekiel appeared to be setting himself up for a strong showing, but he stumbled at the first barrier and lost steam for the remainder of the race. Despite this, he was able to overcome every other obstacle and complete the course in 54.18 seconds.
Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, the sole finalist from Nigeria on Day 3, managed to throw 20.65 metres in the men’s shot put, good for 11th place.
Nigeria’s hope for medals now rests with the female athletes, particularly long jumper, Ese Brume and hurdler, Tobi Amusan, after the country’s male sprinters had failed.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s mixed relay team went home with $8,000 for placing sixth in the finals.
Prior to the championship, the country’s mixed relay team was ranked 15th in the world but shocked the world when they displaced Great Britain to book a place in the final.
The team made the final on Friday after placing fifth in the first race but scaled through after the second race produced a slower time.
The championship began on July 15th and it will be concluded on July 24th.
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