Team Nigeria made history at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow after setting the first-ever Games record in the Mixed 4x400m Relay, while Ruth Usoro qualified for the women’s long jump final on Friday.
The Nigerian quartet of Edidiong Udo, Esther Joseph, Samuel Ogazi and Patience Okon-George won their heat in impressive fashion, clocking 3:14.58 to finish ahead of Australia, which placed second in 3:15.21.
The time saw Nigeria qualify for the final as the fastest team and strengthened the country’s hopes of winning gold in the event, which is making its debut at the Commonwealth Games.
The performance also saw Udo, Joseph, Ogazi and Okon-George become the first athletes to hold the Commonwealth Games record in the Mixed 4x400m Relay.
Kola Daniel, Special Adviser on Media to the Director-General of the National Sports Commission, confirmed the achievement in a statement, describing the performance as a historic moment for Nigerian athletics.
Meanwhile, Usoro secured her place in the women’s long jump final after recording a season’s best of 6.77m with her first attempt.
The Nigerian athlete’s effort, achieved with a +0.6m/s wind reading, surpassed the automatic qualifying mark of 6.70m and secured her progression to the medal event without requiring another attempt.
The strong performances continued Nigeria’s impressive showing in athletics at the Games, with the country’s medal campaign gathering momentum in Glasgow.
