Nwachukwu's Dominance in the 400m
Chioma Nwachukwu delivered a commanding performance on day three of the competition, clinching Nigeria’s first gold medal in the U-18 women’s 400m final. She showcased exceptional control and speed, crossing the finish line in a remarkable 52.47 seconds. Her victory was decisive, with her nearest competitor, fellow Nigerian Hafsoh Majekodunmi, finishing almost two seconds behind her. Majekodunmi herself achieved a personal best of 54.43 seconds, securing a silver medal and ensuring a Nigerian one-two finish in the event.
Nwachukwu, reflecting on her victory, emphasized her strategy of focusing on her own race rather than being swayed by her competitors. "I just didn’t stress myself," she stated. "I ran my own race and didn’t allow anyone to throw me off my pace. This is not new to me, I’ve been preparing for it, and I just focused on keeping my rhythm." Despite her apparent ease, she admitted to conserving energy, keeping in mind the possibility of competing in the 200m later in the championship. "I didn’t want to burn myself out," she explained. Looking to the future, Nwachukwu, who is yet to enter the international testing pool, expressed her ambition to achieve more for Nigeria in the coming year, saying, "This year is done for me, but next year I’m ready to go forward and achieve more for myself and my country."
Majekodunmi's Emotional Silver
Hafsoh Majekodunmi was equally ecstatic about her silver medal, especially as she earned it in front of a supportive home crowd in Abeokuta, with her father cheering her on from the stands. She candidly shared her initial apprehension, given Nwachukwu's superior personal best. "I was really scared this morning," she confessed. "Chioma has a personal best of 51 seconds, while mine was 55. On Monday, I ran 56 and had the third-fastest time, so I was worried."
Majekodunmi attributed her newfound confidence to the encouragement she received from both Nwachukwu and her coach. "Chioma told me, ‘Don’t worry, I’ll take the gold and you’ll take the silver,’ and that’s exactly what happened," she recounted. "My coach also advised me to just follow her pace and not stress. I thank God it worked out." The emotional significance of her achievement was underscored by a heartfelt embrace with her father after the race, a moment she described as one of her proudest. "He told me not to be scared and reminded me how far I’ve come. That encouragement meant a lot," she added.
Caleb's Surprise Bronze in the 100m
In the U-20 men’s 100m final, John Caleb delivered a surprising performance, securing a bronze medal with a late surge. His time of 10.61 seconds was just enough to edge out Mozambique’s Steven Sabino, who finished fourth in 10.67 seconds. Caleb was unaware of his podium finish until the official results were displayed. "I just dipped at the finish and hoped for the best. I didn’t know I came third. When I saw the result, I was really happy," he shared.
Despite his joy, Caleb felt he could have performed even better under different circumstances, pointing to the demanding competition schedule. "I was in great shape, but the schedule has been stressful. We’ve had to sleep late and wake up early every day. That took a toll, but I thank God I still managed to medal." This bronze medal at a continental level has reignited his motivation ahead of the national trials. "I had good training coming into this, so now my focus is on improving my personal best at the trials," he stated. He remains optimistic about his prospects, even against Nigeria's top sprinters, believing that more competition will lead to personal improvement. "Everyone’s nervous in finals—anyone can win." Looking ahead, Caleb has his sights set on the grandest stage: "In four years, I want to be competing at the Olympics. That’s the goal," he affirmed.
These inspiring performances from Chioma Nwachukwu, Hafsoh Majekodunmi, and John Caleb underscore the depth of talent emerging from Nigeria's youth athletics programs. Their achievements at the African U-18/U-20 Championships serve as a testament to their hard work and dedication, and they undoubtedly carry the hopes of the nation for future international successes.