Team Nigeria got off to a disappointing start on day 1 of the IAAF World Relays at the Yokohama International Stadium, Japan on Saturday.
Nigeria is competing in the Men and Women’s 4x100m, Men’s 4x200m and Women’s 4x400m in the two-day World Relays.
On Day 1, the quartet of Patience Okon-George, Favour Ofili, Praise Idamadudu and Yinka Ajayi finished fifth in 3:32.10 in heat 3 of the Women’s 4x400m.
Okon-George took the lead leg for Nigeria, followed by Ofili, Idamadudu ran the third leg while the anchor leg was ran by Yinka Ajayi.
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Canada raced to victory in 3:28.75 while Jamaica and China finished second and third respectively.
Commonwealth bronze medallist Joy Udo-Gabriel led Team Nigeria in the 4x100m. Okon George and Ofili were drafted to fill for US based pair of Tobi Amusan and Jennifer Madu who were absent in the 2nd and third leg while Youth Olympics Gold medallist Rosemary Chukwuma ran the anchor leg.
Team Nigeria settled for 4th with a Season’s Best of 45.07 seconds while winners Denmark ran a National Record in 43.90s to win heat 2 of women’s 4x100m, Ghana finished in 44.12s in second while Thailand settled for third in 44.24s.
In the men’s 4x100m, Team Nigeria’s quartet of Enoch Adegoke, Emmanuel Arowolo, Ogho-Oghene Egwero and Usheoritse Itsekiri initially finished seventh in 39.48s but were later disqualified for running out of their lane in heat 3 of the men’s 4x100m.
Cameron Burrell anchored Team USA to a Season’s Best in 38.34s, China finished 2nd in 38.51s while Canada raced to third in 38.76s.
Action continues at the 2019 IAAF World Relays in Yokohama, Japan on Sunday.
The quartet of Jerry Jakpa, Enoch Adegoke, Ogho-Oghene Egwero and Emmanuel Arowolo will compete for Team Nigeria in the Men’s 4x200m on Sunday.
