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The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has thanked Delta State Governor Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori for providing the platform that enabled Nigeria’s 4×100 men’s relay team to qualify for the 2023 World Athletics Championships billed for Budapest, Hungary in August.
President of the federation, Chief Tonobok Okowa, disclosed this at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba, on Thursday evening shortly after the relay team finished at 38.26 secs in the Warri Grand Prix competition, a time which ranks them 13th best in the world and qualifies them among the top 16 to compete at the World Athletics Championships.
“We must thank the government of Delta State, especially His Excellency, the Governor, for providing for us to hold this event through which our team has now qualified,” he said.
“The Governor responded to us under very short notice and we put this together within four to five days.
“We had been to several events but were unable to qualify. We were at an earlier athletics meet in Benin Republic, we were at another meet at Yaba College of Technology, we later returned to Cotonou for yet another competition, but could not meet the time. I wondered why because we have about three athletes who run sub-10 in the team.”
“After our last attempt in Cotonou, we had to resort to the Warri Grand Prix and, under short notice, the Governor, in support of the country, approved and provided for us to hold the event by which our our team has now qualified.
“We will now have to work harder to see how we can improve towards achieving a podium performance at the World Championships.”