Team Nigeria Excelled at the African Senior Athletics Championships in Douala, Cameroon on the First Day

On the first day of the ongoing African Senior Athletics Championships in Douala, Cameroon, Nigerian athletes showcased their prowess, clinching two gold medals and demonstrating their potential for a successful outing.

Chukwuebuka Enekwechi led the charge, setting a championship record of 21.20m in the men’s shot put and securing his third consecutive African Championship title. His impressive feat ties him for the most gold medals won by a male shot putter in the Championships’ history.

Chioma Onyekwere, a two-time African champion and one-time national champion, 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.

Other notable performances include Kanyinsola Ajayi’s victory in the men’s 100m heat 3, finishing in 10.21s, and Emeka Jeffery’s personal best of 10.60m in the decathlon shot put, placing him third.

Rosemary Chukwuma and Favour Ofili advanced to the semi-finals in the women’s 100m, while Olayinka Olajide won heat 8 with a time of 11.67s.

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

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

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

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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.

Jeffery is the first Nigerian since 2018 (Peter Moreno and Samuel Osadolor) 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.