African U18 and U20 Championships: Ogazi and Okwose storm to Championship Records on Day 2

African U18 and U20 Championships: Ogazi and Okwose storm to Championship Records on Day 2

Funmilayo Fameso 05:49 - 02.05.2023

Samuel Ogazi and Faith Okwose were Nigeria's best performers on Day 2 of the African U18 and U20 Championships in Zambia.

Team Nigeria had a rain of medals on Day 2 of the African U18 and U20 Championships in Zambia, two of which were spearheaded by Samuel Uchenna Ogazi and Faith Okwose in Championship Records (CR).

In a twist of fate, Ogazi won the boy's 400m U18 title in a blazing Championship Record of 46.01s, obliterating the previous record of 46.26s set by South Africa's Lythe Pillay in 2019.

Samuel Ogazi obliterates Championship Record to win 400m title at African U18 and U20 Championships
Samuel Ogazi

Ogazi had a strong finish, coming from behind to topple Kenya's Samuel Toili (the fastest runner in the heats and semis), who settled for silver in 46.18s, and South Africa's Leendert Koekemoer won bronze in 46.31s.

The talented Nigerian who went to the championship with a Personal Best of 47.28s has dropped it by more than one second, which speaks greatly of his talent.

Ogazi drops his PB by over a second in Zambia
Samuel Ogazi

Consequently, Okwose edged her teammate Justina Eyakpobeyan in the girl's 100m final, clocking 11.53s to smash the CR of 11.73s set by Nicola de Bruyn in 2015.

Eyakpobeyan, the Nigerian trials winner, settled for silver in 11.55s, and Reabaka Matshitse won bronze in 11.89s.

Faith Okwose stuns Eyakpobeyan to win African U18 title in Zambia
Faith Okwose

Both Okwose and Eyakpobeyan had previously broken the record in the qualifying rounds, with the latter clocking 11.69s in the heats and the champion lowering it to 11.63s in the semis.

They're also the favourites to take the top two positions in the 200m.

Peace Ewa won the high jump silver medal with 1.69m clearance, finishing behind South Africa's Cindy Strydom with 1.72m, while Raafat Hana Hesham from Egypt won bronze also with 1.69m clearance.

Peace Ewa

Favour Onyinye Onyah won another silver medal for Nigeria in the 400m U18 final, stopping the clock at 54.05s behind South Africa's Colene Scheepers in 53.78s.

In the boy's U18 long jump final, Rukevwe Nwagbogwu settled for the bronze medal by leaping a distance of 6.97m, while South Africa's Temoso Masikane leaped a massive 8.06m for the gold medal, and Algeria's Louai Lamraoui won silver with 7.36m.

Rukevwe Nwagbogwu

For results from Day 1, here's the link.

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