Birmingham 2022: Team Nigeria Fail To Shine In Women’s 100m Final

It was a mixed grill for members of Team Nigeria on Wednesday at the ongoing Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England.

Team Nigeria’s duo of Grace Nwokocha and Rosemary Chukwuma qualified for the final of the 100m women’s event but could not reach the podium.

Elaine Thompson-Herah’s experience shone through as the Jamaican added Commonwealth 100m gold to her collection in a time of 10.95 seconds.

The five-time Olympic champion was clean away and immediately up on England’s Daryll Neita outside her.

Neita, who ran a personal best of 10.90 in the semi-finals, could not make up the deficit and ended with bronze.

Nigeria’s Rosemary Chukwuma returned a time of 11.17 seconds to finish in the fourth spot ahead of another Team Nigeria member Nzubechi Grace Nwokocha in 11.18 seconds.

Both Nigerians had finished second in their heat. The third Team Nigeria athlete, Joy Udo-Gabriel did not make it.

While the women competed for medals in the final, it was not good news from the 100m men’s event.

No Nigerian made the final. Godson Brume, Favour Ashe and Raymond Ekevwo all failed in their quest to reach the final.

Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala claimed the men’s title ahead of South Africa’s defending champion Akani Simbine.

Omanyala, who only converted to sprinting from rugby in his late teens, came home in 10.02 seconds to add the Commonwealth crown to the African title he claimed in June.

The 26-year-old’s hopes of a hat-trick of titles this season had been scuttled by a visa delay that meant he arrived at last month’s World Championships just two-and-a-half hours before his first heat.

He was eliminated in the semi-finals in Eugene after running a disappointing 10.14.

By contrast, he dominated the Commonwealth final, powering away from Simbine, who finished back in 10.13.

Sri Lanka’s Yupun Abeykoon claimed Sri Lanka’s first athletics medal at the Games since 1998 by taking bronze in 10.14.

The 27-year-old’s success comes amid political and civil unrest in the country that has extended to its Commonwealth team.

Two members are reported to have absconded from their base in Birmingham.

Two Nigerians are through to the semi-final men’s 400m. Nathaniel Samson Oghenewegba and Amene Dubem will be eyeing a place in the final.

In boxing, Adeyinka Benson’s winning a medal evaporated on Wednesday as he lost his quarterfinals fight in the Men’s Middleweight category to Scotland’s Sam Hickey.

It was not all gloomy for Team Nigeria on Wednesday, as Sule Nasiru defeated Canadian Muhammad Mudassar after a brilliant 3-0 win as he emerged victorious in his first match of the Table Tennis Men’s event in the Para category.

Nigeria at the Games so far.
3 gold
1 silver
4 bronze

Position
10th