After almost 12 years Nigerian men long jumpers are beginning to shake things up with three athletes landing 8.00m at the National Championships.
The contest at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium Benin City was fierce as Charles Godfred, Goodness Iredia and Emma Njoku battled to achieve the Olympics qualifying standard of 8.27m.
Though they didn’t meet the target, their performance left everyone watching in awe.
Godfred, a former junior athlete at African Championships in Ndola, Zambia leapt 8.16m, while Iredia and Njoku tied at 8.00m all personal bests for the jumpers.
Speaking on the development Edo State Sports Commission executive chairman and national record holder at 8.21m Yusuf Alli said he was super excited.
“This is the first time in almost 15 years we are have any Nigerian jumper making an 8m jump. Not one but three and it was achieved in Benin City.
“The last time we had a jumper doing 8m was Stanley Gbagbeke and that was in Calabar many years ago,” said Mr. Alli
“Things are beginning to look like back in the 1980s where we have four jumpers doing 8m. If these boys can focus on training Godfred can achieve 8.2m in the next few years.
“We also have athletes coming up in the hurdles and throws. It is time now we really need to manage our track and field so well considering the number of talents we see coming up.”
