World U-20 : Nigeria Smash African Record, Miss Mixed 4×100m Medal
Nigeria narrowly missed out on a historic medal but set a new African U-20 record in the inaugural mixed 4×100m relay at the 2026 World Athletics U-20 Championships in Eugene, Oregon.
The quartet of Tejiri Godwin, Chigozie Rosemary Nwankwo, Perfect Faye and Miracle Ezechukwu clocked 41.77 seconds to finish fourth in a thrilling final.
Ezechukwu once again produced a stunning anchor leg, running a 9.89-second split to drag Nigeria from seventh position into fourth at the finish.
Italy won the inaugural world title in a new World U-20 record of 41.21 seconds, with Great Britain and Northern Ireland taking silver in 41.38s and the United States claiming bronze in 41.39s.
Nigeria’s 41.77s, however, was enough to establish a new African U-20 record.
Jamaica finished fifth in 41.92s, ahead of Germany (42.03s) and Poland (42.17s).
The performance capped another impressive outing for Ezechukwu, who had earlier inspired Nigeria into the women’s 4×100m final.
Nigeria had trailed the United States by almost 20 metres when Ezechukwu received the baton in the semifinal, but the youngster produced a sensational recovery to bring the team home in third in 43.65s, just 0.02 seconds ahead of the Americans.
The Nigerian women’s 4×100m team will now return to the track for the final with a medal firmly in sight.
Elsewhere, Success Oyibu finished fifth in the women’s 200m final after clocking 23.27 seconds.
American Mia Maxwell claimed gold in 22.37s, while Shanoya Douglas took silver in 22.68s.
Nigeria also qualified for the women’s 4×400m final after Becky Ebiyadi, Jecinta Lawrence, Tejiri Ugoh and Faith Ezechukwu finished third in their heat in 3:35.28, behind Italy and Great Britain.
Results at a glance Mixed 4×100m Final
Italy – 41.21s (World U-20 Record)
Great Britain & Northern Ireland – 41.38s
USA – 41.39s
Nigeria – 41.77s (African U-20 Record)
Jamaica – 41.92s
Germany – 42.03s
Poland – 42.17s
