Nwankwo relishes experience at Botswana 2026 World Relays
Nigeria will be Africa’s sole representative in the mixed 4x100m relay when the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championships begin in Budapest, Hungary.

The new biennial championships, which will be held from September 11 to 13 at the National Athletics Centre in Budapest, has a $10 million prize pool, with winners earning $150, 000 each.

It is a three-day competition format for elite athletes designed for television.

Nigeria and five other countries, Jamaica, Canada, the United States, Germany, and Spain earned their tickets based on their performance in the mixed 4x100m final at the just concluded World Relays in Gaborone, Botswana.

Kenya, which is the other African country listed for the championships, will compete in the mixed 4x400m relay.

Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, yesterday, described Nigeria’s qualification for the new biennial championships in Budapest as another milestone.

“We will continue to give our athletes the support they need to excel at major competitions,” Olopade said.

“The results at the World Relays in Botswana are a pointer to the fact that with motivation, our athletes will always give their best,” he added.

Meanwhile, a member of the victorious Team Nigeria to the World Athletics Relays Championship in Botswana, Rosemary Nwankwo, has described her ticket to the World Athletics Championships as a major milestone.

She stated that competing on such a grand stage and securing the ticket to the World Championship is one of the best things to have ever happened to her in athletics.

At the World Relays in Botswana, Nwankwo had to overcome some hurdles, which included not handling the baton properly.

The Nigerian women’s relay team dropped the baton on the first day of competition, but was able to correct the mistake on the second day.

“I feel so good because this is my first big tournament since I started athletics, and I am so grateful to God.

“What happened on the first day was nobody’s fault, but thank God we had another opportunity to run again, and we qualified. So I am so excited.

“We just told ourselves that we can do this, let’s forget about what happened the previous day and focus on the one ahead of us. My experience has been great,” she said.

The 100m sprinter went on to describe what went on her mind during the race.

“During the race, I was not looking at anyone. What was in my head was about what I could give to help my team to succeed. I wasn’t concerned whether this one is faster than this one. I just ran with all I had, and I gave my very best,” she said.

Nwankwo said her next focus is the Senior Africa Championship in Ghana, saying she will leave a lasting impression in the hearts of Ghanaians.