African Games 2023: James, Itsekiri, Olajide Others In Athletics Final

Team Nigeria representatives were the cynosure of eyes as they gave good accounts of themselves on Day 1 of athletics at the ongoing 13th African Games in Ghana as Comfort James went through to the final of the women’s 800m.

Running in heat 3, James came in 4th running an equal personal best of 2:05.11 which was enough for her to make her maiden international final.

In the men’s category, Hamid Sambo gave finishing in 6th position with a time of 1:51.28.

Meanwhile, the trio of Usheoritse Itsekiri, Consider Ekanem, and Israel Okon Sunday easily qualified for the men’s 100m semifinals.

Itsekiri and Ekanem convincingly won their 100m semifinals to qualify for the 100m final, where they will face a stiff challenge in Cameroon’s Emmanuel Eseme for the African Games title.

The Nigerian duo clocked the second and third-fastest overall times to qualify for the final, led by top favorite and world indoor finalist Eseme in 10.23s.

With the 100m final set to be a firecracker, Itsekiri will be gunning to win his first African title and second consecutive gold medal for Nigeria in the event, while Eseme’s target will be on becoming Cameroon’s first African Games 100m champion or medalist.

Also, Olayinka Olajide, Justina Eyakpobeyan, and Blessing Ogundiran did the same in the women’s category to set things rolling for Nigerian athletes on the day.

Olajide and Eyakpobeyan lived up to expectations by making the women’s 100m final.

Also Read: African Games 2023: Falconets Face Host Ghana In Final

Olajide became the first Nigerian to book a spot in the final on the first day of athletics, after blazing to the finish line in 11.46s (-1.5) ahead of Congo’s Natacha Akamabi in 11.48s.

Likewise, Eyakpobeyan was unstoppable in her semifinal race as she led from start to finish, closing in a respectable time of 11.61s.

In the men’s 400m, Chidi Okezie ran a season’s best of 45.89sthe second to book his spot in the semifinal as Dubem Nwachukwu 46.29s in his heat saw him finish second to make it through, while Sikiru Adeyemi’s time of 46.72s was also enough to make the semifinal.

The women’s category saw Esther Joseph clocked a blistering personal best of 51.81s to win her heat, Esther Okon finished second in her heat in 53.17s, and Brittany Ogunmokun third in 53.53s, all making it to the semifinals.

Meanwhile, the highlight of the day for Team Nigeria was the quartet of Emmanuel Ojeli, Patience Okon-George, Samson Nathaniel, and Omolara Ogunmankinju posting a Season’s Best and initial Games Record of 3:15.23 to advance to the final.

However, the record was short-lived as the Botswana team clocked a faster time of 3:14.36s to win their semifinal race.

African Games 2023: James, Itsekiri, Olajide Others In Athletics Final