Team Nigeria punched their ticket to the 2024 Paris Olympics after an impressive second-place finish in the Mixed 4x400m relay at the World Relays in Silesia, Poland.
The Nigerian quartet of Samuel Ogazi, Ella Onojuvwevwo, Chidi Okezie and Esther Elo Joseph clocked an excellent 3:13.79 to finish behind a world record-setting United States team that won in 3:11.52.
Their performance secures an automatic qualification spot for Nigeria in the event, which made its Olympic debut at the Tokyo 2020 Games.
The Mixed 4x400m has emerged as one of the country’s strongest prospects for a medal at the Paris Olympics. With a talented pool of quarter-milers, the event presents Nigeria a golden opportunity to build on their relay pedigree.
At the last Olympics, Nigeria’s Mixed 4x400m team narrowly missed the podium by 0.3 seconds, finishing an agonizing fourth.
However, with the likes of Ogazi, Okezie and fast-rising Onojuvwevwo in the fold, the current squad has the potential to go all the way in Paris.
The successful World Relays campaign also saw the Nigerian women’s 4x200m team qualify for the 2024 World Championships.
As Nigeria’s athletics fortunes continue rising, all eyes will be on the quarter-mile aces to deliver a historic Olympic podium finish in Paris.
