The pair of Chidi Anthony Okezie and Esther Elo Joseph both clinched podium finishes for Nigeria in the men’s and women’s 400m events at the ongoing 13th African Games in Accra, Ghana.
Okezie, 30, was impressive all through the heats, and raced to the gold medal in the men’s final, clocking a Personal Best (PB) time of 45.06 seconds at the UGH Legion Stadium on Wednesday.
CHIDI OKEZIE ???????? has done it!!????????
He ran an absolutely stunning race in the men's 400m final at the African Games, storming to a Personal Best (PB) of 45.06s, the fastest time by a Nigerian athlete in 9 years!
He defeated one of the world's fastest men in the form of Muzala… pic.twitter.com/4vMAa6EJVG
— Making of Champions (@MakingOfChamps) March 20, 2024
The two-time African Championships bronze medallist ran the fastest time by a Nigerian athlete in nine years to beat Zambia’s Muzala Samukonga, who ran a time of 45.37s, while Diouf Cheick Tidiane of Senegal finished third in 45.49s.
Dubem Nonyelu Nwachukwu, who was the only other athlete that donned Nigeria’s colours in the men’s 400m final, finished eighth, with a time of 47.13s.
SILVER for Esther Elo Joseph ????????!!????????
She ran the race of her life, going out hard and then holding on firmly to win Silver in the women's 400m final at the African Games in a new Personal Best (PB) of 51.61s!
She was only beaten by World 800m Champion Mary Moraa ???????? who clocked… pic.twitter.com/fPDM58clry
— Making of Champions (@MakingOfChamps) March 20, 2024
In the women’s category, Esther Joseph claimed the silver medal with her new PB of 51.61s.
The 20-year-old finished behind Kenya’s Mary Moraa, the current 800m World champion, who ran 50.57s for the gold medal, while Sita Sibiri of Burkina Faso came in third in 51.74, a new national record.
