How Nigeria fared on Day One

…as Enekwechi, Onyekwere win first gold medals

Nigeria twice struck gold on day one of the ongoing African Senior Athletics Championships in Douala, Cameroon, through Chukwuebuka Enekwechi and Chioma Onyekwere in the men’s shot put and women’s discus, respectively.

Chukwuebuka Enekwechi

Enekwechi began what looks like a gold rush for the country by pounding out a championship record of 21.20 m to win.

He thus completed a hat-trick of African Championship titles, having won in Asaba and Mauritius, and is now tied for the most gold medals by a male shot putter in the history of the Championships.

Chioma Onyekwere

Two-time African champion and one-time national champion, Chioma Onyekwere, added another one to her titles with a throw of 59.43 m.

It was her sixth-best mark this season, and it was enough for her to win the title.

Kanyinsola Ajayi

Newly crowned Nigerian men’s 100m champion, Kanyinsola Ajayi, won men’s 100m heat 3 in 10.21s. Ghana’s Isaac Botsio was second.

Godson Brume

Godson Brume placed third in the men’s 100-metre heat, won by Joseph Fahnbulleh with a time of 10.45s.

Usheoritse Itsekiri

Usheoritse Itsekiri finished second in the men’s 100m heat 4 behind Tapiwanashe Makarawu, who won in 10.35s.

Rosemary Chukwuma

Rosemary Chukwuma finished second in women’s 100m heat 1, which was won by Ivory Coast’s Marie Josée Ta Lou-Smith in 11.14s.

Olayinka Olajide

Olayinka Olajide clocked 11.67s to win the women’s 100m heat 8 and advance to the semi-finals.

Favour Ofili

Favour Ofili clocked a time of 11.22s to win the women’s 100m heat 2 and advanced to the semis.

Emeka Jeffery

Emeka Jeffery was the first Nigerian to be in p action on Friday, and he didn’t disappoint,  concluding his morning events in the shot put.

He threw a new decathlon-shot put personal best of 10.60m to finish 3rd in the event, improving on his former PB of 10.47 m that he threw earlier this year in Asaba.

Since 2018 (Peter Moreno and Samuel Osadolor), Jeffery is the first Nigerian to compete in the decathlon at the African Championship, and he will be hoping to make the podium. He finished 2nd in the 100m earlier on Friday.