ANOTHER member of Team Nigeria athletics has advanced to the semi-finals of the men’s 400m hurdles.
Ezekiel Nathaniel made it to the semi-finals from Heat 4, clocking a time of 48.38 seconds behind Jamaica’s Roshawn Clarke. Clarke finished in a time of 48.17 seconds.
Ezekiel Nathaniel has now broken a 12-year record, qualifying for the semi-finals of the men’s 400m hurdles event. The last Nigerian to reach this stage in the event was Amaechi Morton at the London 2012 Olympics.
Ezekiel Nathaniel’s time was the sixth fastest time in the 400m Hurdles. Norway’s Karsten Warholm 47.57 seconds is the fastest time.
Meanwhile, it was not a sweet story for Chidi Okezie in the men’s 400m Repechage round; he still could not land in the semi-finals, leaving Samuel Ogazi as the lone flag bearer from Nigeria in the competition.
The story was the same for Ella Onojuvwevwo and Esther Elo Joseph in the women’s 400m race on Monday morning.
Esther Elo Joseph was disqualified in her race while Ella Onojuvwevwo finished sixth in Heat 3.
Also, no Nigerian athlete has reached the final of any track event at the Paris Games.
Kanyinsola Ajayi and Favour Ashe crashed out in the semi-finals of the men’s 100m, Rosemary Chukwuma suffered the same fate in the women’s 100m.
African Shot Put champion Chukwuebuka Enekwechi is the only athlete who has reached the final of his event. He, however, finished sixth.
Eighteen-Eleven Media