Nigeria has set a new African record in the mixed 4×100 meters relay race. The quartet of Favour Ashe, Jennifer Obi, Chidera Ezeakor, and Maria Omokwe blitzed to the record time of 40.24 seconds on Saturday in one of the event’s heats at the World Athletics Relays in Gabrone, Botswana.
Nigeria finished fourth in the race but reached the relay final after securing one of the two non-automatic qualification spots. As a result, the athletes booked the country’s place in the mixed 4×100 relay at the 2027 World Athletics Championships in Beijing. The final of the mixed 4x100m will be held on Sunday at 4:05 pm Nigerian time. However, Nigeria failed to make the final in the five other events.
The team finished fifth in the men’s 4x100m, while the women did not finish after a baton exchange howler. The women’s team was depleted by the late withdrawal of Rosemary Chukwuma, Blessings Ogundiran and Anita Enaruna.