The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) on Monday released a list of 37 athletes that will represent Nigeria at the 2014 Commonwealth Games (CWG) billed for Glasgow, Scotland.
These is against the backdrop of performances of the country’s athletes at the AFN/CRS All Nigeria Athletics Championships, which was concluded last Saturday in Calabar.
According to a statement issued by the Chairman Technical Committee of the AFN, Navy Commodore Omatseye Nesiama, nine (9) other athletes have been listed on probation for the championships which comes up from July 23 to August 3.
Top of the list is Africa’s women’s sprint queen Blessing Okagbare, who will be entered for 100m, 200m and 4×100m relays in both Glasgow and at the Africa Championships in Marrakesh, Morocco, immediately after the Commonwealth Games.
American-born Mark Jerks, who won the men’s 100m event in 10.23secs at the national championships in Calabar, will make his first international appearance for Team Nigeria in Scotland.
“I am looking to the Commonwealth Games,” Jerks is quoted as saying on AthleticsAfrica. I am here to win medal, I will go past the first round, I will make it to the finals, I will win medals, I am here to compete to the best of my ability.”
Stephen Mozia, who won his first All Nigeria gold medal after dominating the men’s shot put with a throw of 18.14 metres in Calabar, will take a shot at a Commonwealth medal in Glasgow and also in the discuss event.
Tosin Oke (triple jump) and Tyrone Akins (110m hurdles) are other Team Nigeria medal hopefuls.
Omatseye adds that those placed on probation have a maximum time frame of two weeks to attain the set standard or get chopped from the list.
“Please note that we have deliberately included the names of the qualified juniors in the team for moral boosting purposes. They would be mostly engaged in the World Junior Championships and the African Athletics Championships.
“Their participation in the CWG is subject to other considerations such as convenience of schedule, available depth of the CWG [Glasgow 2014] team etc,” the athletics chief explains.
More names will be included ahead of Nigeria’s participation in Marrakesh and “Names of coaches and officials would be communicated in due course,” says Omatseye.
List of Athletes
Women:
100m/200m/4x100m
1. Blessing Okagbare
2. Gloria Asumnu
3. Dominique Duncan
4. Justina Sule
5. Deborah Odeyemi
6. Mariam Bassey
7. Christy Udo
100m Hurdles
1. Nicole Denby
2. Ugonna Ndu
400m Hurdles
1. Amaka Ogoegbunam
800m
1. Abiye David. (Probation)
400m/4x400m
1. Patience Okon
2. Folashade Abugan
3. Omolara Omotosho
4. Regina George
5. Ada Benjamin
6. Funke Oladoye
Long Jump
1. Blessing Okagbare
2. Ese Brume
Shot Put
1. Nwaneka Okwelogu
Discus
1. Chinwe Okoro
Hammer
1. Queen Obisesan (Probation)
Men:
100m / 4x100m
1. Mark Jelks
2. Mozavous Jolomi Edwards
3. Ogho Egwero
4. Seye Ogunlewe
5. Obinna Metu
6. Divine Oduduru
7. Peter Emelize
110m Hurdles
1. Tyrone Akins
2. Alex Al-Ameen
3. Martins Ogheriakhi
400m Hurdles
1. Christian Amaechi Morton
2. Rilwan Alowonle (Probation)
400m/4x400m (Probation)
1. Isah Salihu
2. Noah Akwu
3. Omeiza Akerele
4. Orukpe Erayokan
5. Abiola Onakoya
800m
1. Sean Obinwa (Probation)
Long Jump
1. Samson Idiata
2. Suleiman Hammed
1500m Men
1. Soudi Hamajan
Triple Jump
1. Tosin Oke
2. Olumide Olamigoke
Shot Put/Discus
1. Stephen Mozia
Javelin
1. Kenechukwu Ejiofor
