Team Nigeria made a mixed start to the 2026 World Athletics U20 Championships Oregon, recording both progress and disappointment on the opening day, www.aclsports.com reports.
The championships, taking place in Eugene, Oregon, from 5 to 9 August, feature several Nigerian athletes across track and field events. Among them is Jessica Oji, who heads to Oregon after winning silver at the 2026 Commonwealth Games and is regarded as one of the favourites for the women’s shot put title.
Nigeria’s first action came in the mixed 4x400m relay, where David Udoh, Faith Ezechukwu, Perfect Faye and Jecinta Lawrence clocked 3:26.35 to finish sixth in their heat. The result was not enough to secure a place in the next round.
In the women’s 100m, Rosemary Nwankwo became Nigeria’s first individual athlete to progress beyond the opening round after finishing third in her heat in 11.57 seconds. She improved slightly to 11.54 seconds in the semi-finals but placed fifth in her race, missing out on a place in the final.
Lucy Nwankwo’s campaign ended in the heats after she finished fifth in her race in 11.77 seconds.
The men’s 100m also produced a Nigerian semi-finalist in Tejiri Godwin. He advanced after running 10.39 seconds to place second in his heat before recording 10.34 seconds in the semi-finals. However, a sixth-place finish brought his challenge to an end.
Gift Bright was the other Nigerian in the men’s 100m but did not progress after placing fifth in his heat in 10.60 seconds.
Several Nigerian athletes are yet to begin their campaigns. Miracle Ezechukwu, Rosemary Nwankwo and Lucy Nwankwo make up Nigeria’s women’s 100m contingent, while Ezechukwu, Success Oyibu and Tejiri Praise Ugoh will compete in the women’s 200m.
Becky Ebiyadi, Faith Ezechukwu and Jecinta Lawrence are entered in the women’s 400m, while Chika Bakwunye will represent Nigeria in the women’s 100m hurdles. Oji is scheduled to compete in both the women’s shot put and discus throw.
On the men’s side, Bright and Perfect Faye are entered in the 200m, David Udoh will contest the 400m, while Precious Opinion is Nigeria’s representative in the triple jump.
Nigeria will also feature in the men’s and women’s 4x100m relays, as well as the women’s 4x400m relay, with several athletes expected to combine relay duties with their individual events.
