By Ben Efe 13.9.2025
Nigerian athletes had a mixed bag of performances in the opening day of the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan.
The good news of the day for Nigerian track and field officials were the heartwarming performances of Kayinsola Ajayi and Sunday Okon who have both qualified for the semi-final of the men’s 100m. Ajayi running in his World Championships posted a personal best of 9.88 seconds in his heat won by South Africa’s Gift Leotlela who posted 9.87 seconds. These were the fastest times of the heats. Okon also making his first World Championships won his heat with 10.04 seconds run to reach the semi-final.
Rosemary Chukwuma fell short in the women’s 100m after she failed to qualify from her heat. she ran 11.27 seconds.
Shot Put thrower Chukwuebuka Enekewchi did all he could to be on the podium, but his 21.52m heave left him at that fifth place in the event won by US Ryan Crouser with 22.34m season best throw, Mexico’s Munoz Uziel set a new national record with 21.97m to win silver, Italy’s Leonardo Fabbri was third with 21.94m, while Tom Walsh of New Zealand finished fourth also with 21.94.
The bad news of the day came from Ese Brume in the women’s long jump. She leapt 6.46m to finish well outside the final 12. Also, up and coming Prestina Ochonogor making her debut mustered only 6.04m a disappointing outing for an athlete who was in the final of the 2024 Olympics in Paris, France.
Chukwuebuka Enekwechi and Kayinsola Ajayi... good outing.