Nigeria’s sprint relay quartet comprising Favour Ashe, Jennifer Obi, Chidera Ezeakor, and Maria Thompson Omokwe have clinched qualification for both the World Relays final and the 2027 World Athletics Championships in Beijing.
The Nigerian team began their World Relays campaign in Gaborone with a strong and historic showing in the mixed 4x100m race, delivering one of their most impressive performances in recent times.
They posted a new African record of 40.24 seconds, finishing fourth in their heat, but still advanced to the final as one of the fastest non-automatic qualifiers.
On the opening day of the championship, the team showed composure in a tightly contested Heat 1 race, securing their ticket to Beijing 2027 despite stiff competition.
Nigeria joins powerhouse nations such as the United States, Jamaica, Great Britain & Northern Ireland, the Netherlands, Spain, and Germany in qualifying for the mixed 4x100m final, highlighting the event’s elite competition level.
The heats saw multiple record-breaking moments, with Canada briefly setting a world record of 40.07 seconds before Jamaica responded with a faster 39.99 seconds. Germany and the Netherlands also delivered strong runs of 40.15 and 40.20 seconds respectively.
Nigeria’s record-setting run not only secured a place in the final but also confirmed their qualification for the 2027 World Championships, marking a major achievement for the team.
In other action, Nigeria’s men’s 4x400m relay team kept their qualification hopes alive after finishing sixth in 3:01.04, with Badmus, Ojeli, Ime, and Asuquo advancing to the repechage round.
The mixed relay final scheduled for Sunday will decide additional qualification spots for the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest 2026, with the top six teams earning automatic qualification.
