Team Nigeria showcased an outstanding performance in the 100 metres events at the ongoing CAA African U-18/U-20 Athletics Championships in Abeokuta on Thursday, achieving a clean sweep of all available medals in the U-18 girls category and securing a 1-2 finish in the U-20 girls final, thereby emphasizing their dominance on home ground.
In the U-18 girls’ 100m final, the host nation had a flawless outing, with Miracle Ezechukwu leading a historic Nigerian clean sweep.
She clinched the gold medal with a time of 11.88s (−0.4 m/s), finishing ahead of her fellow countrywomen Chigozie Nwankwo and Mariam Jegede, who took home the silver and bronze medals with times of 11.96s and 12.20s, respectively.
Ezechukwu, who trains alongside Nwankwo, admitted that she was nearly overwhelmed by nerves before the race but expressed her gratitude for the outcome.
“I feel so happy because I honestly did not expect to win gold,” she shared with sports pundits after the race.
“I was nervous, especially because of the South African competitor and my teammate, but God took care of everything for me. From day one, this was my goal, to become the African champion in 2025. I’m incredibly thankful.”
Having entered the championships directly from the National Youth Games, Ezechukwu regarded this experience as a significant milestone in her career.
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“This is undoubtedly the beginning of my career. Coming here after the youth games and leaving with gold is truly special,” she remarked.
Her training partner, Nwankwo, who secured the silver medal, was equally thrilled, noting that their time spent in camp had been fruitful.
“I’m not disappointed at all,” she stated.
“We’ve been training diligently together in camp for weeks. Only one person can win gold, and I’m proud to have contributed to the medal tally. It’s a job well done.”
For Jegede, who earned the bronze medal, the achievement was equally fulfilling, even though she was initially uncertain about her performance.
“I knew I came third, but I wasn’t sure until I saw the replay. Now, I just want to continue training and improve even further,” she expressed.
