Nigerian athletes go home without medals at the U-20 World Championship

Nigerian athletes at the ongoing World U-20 Athletics Championships in Lima, Peru, on Friday, August 30 lost two finals, ensuring that they ended their campaign without a medal.

This barren run without medals in track and field competition continues after the Paris 2024 Olympics where no athletes won any medal.

In the just U-20 tournament in Peru, Prestina Ochonogor raised the hope of winning a medal for Nigeria after she secured her spot in the long jump final with a leap of 6.28 meters on Tuesday, August 27 but finished below expectation, earning fifth in the women’s long jump with a 6.21m leap.

In the women’s 100m, Justina Eyakpobeyan who advanced to the semi-finals with a time of 11.61 seconds, also finished seventh in the women’s 100m final with a time of 11.63s.

Ella Onojuvwevwo, finished fifth with a time of 52.61s, missing out on the podium finish in the women’s 400m while Gafar Badmus placed fifth in his semi-final heat with a time of 47.43s, missing the finals.

Then in a twist, Caleb Joshua, who initially finished third in his heat in the men’s 400m was eventually disqualified for a lane infringement.