The African record in the women’s 4x100m event has finally been broken on Sunday morning by Nigeria’s relay team after three decades.
The Nigerian team – Joy Udo-Gabriel, Favour Ofili, Rosemary Chukwuma and Grace Nwokocha who ran the race of their lives broke the record early Sunday morning in the final of the women’s 4x100m event at the ongoing World Championships in Oregon.
The team posted a time of 42.22s to break the long-standing 42.39s National/African Record set by their compatriots, Christy Opara-Thompson, Faith Idehen, Beatrice Utondu and Mary Onyali, at the Barcelona 92 Olympics where Nigeria ended with a bronze medal.
Udo-Gabriel, whose inclusion in the team was questioned by some critics, shut her critics up for the umpteenth time with a well-executed first leg race before handing over to Ofili who sustained the momentum.
Then it was the turn of Chukwuma for the third leg and she did well before handing over to Nwokocha who finished off brilliantly.
Unfortunately, despite their record-breaking race, the Nigerian ladies still did not make it to the podium as they finished fourth behind the United States who won with a fast time of 41.14s.
Jamaica and Germany finished second and third respectively.
Sunday was the first time in 11 years that the Nigeria women’s relay team participated in the final of the World Championships.
