Nigeria will experience its busiest day at the Paris 2024 Olympics as track and field events get fully underway today.
Track and field has delivered the country’s highest medal count at the Olympics—14 out of 27—and remains a key area of hope for medals at these Games.
Seven Nigerian athletes and a relay team are in action today, aiming for podium finishes.
Women’s high jump – Temitope Adeshina – 9:15 a.m.
In her first Olympics, Temitope Adeshina will need to clear her personal best of 1.97m or rank among the top 12 jumpers to qualify for the final. Adeshina is ranked 19th in the world heading into the Games.
The 25-year-old Texas Tech University student is a strong contender, as only five athletes at Paris 2024 have jumped higher than her this season.
Women’s 100m heat – Rosemary Chukwuma, Tima Godbless – 10:50 a.m.
With Favour Ofili not registered for the women’s 100m, Nigeria’s medal hopes rest on Rosemary Chukwuma and Tima Godbless as the heats take place this morning.
Chukwuma is the fifth-fastest woman in the world this year, with a time of 10.88s in the 100m.
Women’s discus – Ashley Anumba – 5:55 p.m.
Obiageri Amaechi, Chioma Onyekwere – 7:20 p.m.
For the first time, three Nigerian athletes will compete in the women’s discus at the Olympics. Ashley Anumba, Obiageri Amaechi, and Chioma Onyekwere will represent the country.
Anumba will compete in Group A of the qualification round, while Amaechi and Onyekwere will participate in Group B. To advance to the final, they must either throw 64m or place among the top 12. For Anumba and Amaechi, reaching the 64m mark would set a personal record.
Mixed 4x400m relay heat – 6:10 p.m.
Nigeria aims to advance to the semi-finals of the mixed 4x400m relay, an event making its Olympic debut in Tokyo 2020.
The Nigerian team is drawn in Heat 2 alongside Italy, Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Ireland, Germany, Ukraine, the Netherlands, and the Dominican Republic.
Men’s shot put – Chukwuebuka Enekwechi – 7:10 p.m.
Chukwuebuka Enekwechi will compete in the shot put with hopes of reaching the final. With a personal best of 21.91m this season, Enekwechi is confident, knowing the qualification mark for the final is 21.35m.
