Only athletes with medal prospects will represent Nigeria in Mauritius, says Okowa

Nigeria’s Nzubechi Grace Nwokocha reacts prior to competing in the women’s 100m heats during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Photo: AFP

• Athletes begin trials today in Lagos

The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) will today begin selection of athletes for the 22nd African Senior Championships holding in Mauritius.

In 2018, Nigeria hosted the last edition of the African Senior Athletics Championships in Asaba, Delta State, finishing third on the medals table with nine gold, five silver and six bronze medals behind Kenya (11, 6, 2) and South Africa (9, 14, 8).

AFN President, Tonobok Okowa, said only athletes with medals prospect would be picked for the trip. Already, the best of Nigeria’s athletes have gathered in Lagos for AFN’s second All Comers competition of the year, which will hold at the Yaba College of Technology.

The two-day competition will serve as selection trials for home-based athletes that will fly Team Nigeria’s flag to Mauritius from June 8 to 12, 2022.

According to the programme of events released by AFN Secretary General, Adisa Adeniyi Beyioku, today’s events will begin with the 10,000 Race Walk final for women at 8.00 a.m. The men’s 10,000 Race walk final will follow at 8.05 a.m., while the women’s discus final, men’s high jump final, as well as the men and women’s 1,500m final will follow in that order.

The heat for men and women’s 100m, high jump for women, 100m hurdles (women), 110m hurdles (men) 400m for men and women, as well as hammer throw final for men and women will conclude the morning session.

The afternoon events will witness the final in the long jump (men), javelin (women), 400m hurdles (women), shot put (men), 400m hurdles (men), 100m women final B, 100m women final A, 100m men final B, 100m