Ekporere Records Personal Best, Ofili, Agadama Advance
Team Nigeria got off to a good start on Day 3 of the World U20 Athletics Championships as athlete Prosper Oghenemine Ekporere stormed through the barriers to advance to the semi finals of the Men’s 110m Hundles, while Favour Ofili and Ruth Agadama advanced to the next round at the Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi, Kenya.
Ekporere advanced to the semi finals of the Men’s 110m Hundles with an impressive Personal Best (PB) record of 13.71s earlier this morning, winning Heat 1 of the event in a grand style.
Ekporere would have his eyes on claiming Gold if he can advance to the final of the event as his new PB of 13.71s gives him enough confidence in reaching his target.
Favour Ofili (Women’s 200m)
Nigerian athlete Favour Ofili underlined why she is regarded as a strong medal contender in the Women’s 200m event, posting the second fastest time overall in the Heats to easily win Heat 5 in a time of 22.74s.
Ofili will be competing in the semifinals later this evening for a chance to progress to the Final of the event. Also, in heat 3 of women’s 200m, Nigeria’s Anita Taviore also qualified for the semis, clocking 23.97s to finish 3rd in the race.
Ruth Agadama (Long Jump)
Team Nigeria’s Ruth Agadama hit the 6m mark on her last attempt which got her passage into the next round of the event Long Jump event.
Agadama will have to improve in the Final for a chance to win Gold in the Long Jump category at the World Athletics U20 Championship in Nairobi, Kenya.
Udodi Onwuzurike (Men’s 200m)
Team Nigeria athlete Udodi Onwuzurike marked his first outing for the nation with a new Personal Best, coming out of the bend before South Africa’s Sinesipho Dambile to win Heat 1 of Men’s 200m clocking 20.47s.
Onwuzurike announced himself to the Nigerian audience in brilliant fashion. The race had the complete package as Onwuzurike ran into a headwind (-1.0), tripped himself at the line and still managed to run the fastest time overall in the event.
Esther Osisike (Discus)
It was not the expected outing for Esther Osisike who finished 11th with a 1st round attempt of 44.68m in the discus category. Osisike was fouled in her second attempt before she threw 44.17m on her third attempt.
However, it was not enough to get her to the final of the event.
Adekalu Fakorede (Men’s 200m)
Adekalu Fakorede was a little behind with about 80m to go in Heat 4, but he finished strongly, crossing the line in 21.14s to finish 5th within a chance of progressing to the semi finals in the Men’s 200m.
He is currently 3rd in the next four fastest times, and will hopefully go through.
Chidi Nwoke/Making of Champions.
