Guardian Nigeria
The Nigerian men’s 400m division is looking up and good with solid pool of athletes, who are set to reenact the past rivalries that produced some of the greatest quatermilers in Africa, as the 2024 AFN National Trials begin in Benin City, Edo State today.
From the early 1990 to the middle of 2000, great 400m runners like Innocent Egbunike, Sunday Uti, Rotimi Peters, Sunday Bada, Clement Chukwu, Jude Monye, Fidelis Gadzama and Enefiok Udo-Obong, burn the track, setting records as if there were no tomorrow.
And their performances, particularly Egbunike’s 44.17secs national record, remained a yardstick to measure the efforts of present day runners.Between 2004 and 2015 Nigerian men quartermilers seem to be lost under the radar as they straddled between 46.00 sec and 45.00sec performances.
However, at the 2015 African Games in Congo Brazzaville, Orukpe Erayokan ran 44.95secs to remind Nigerians how things used to be in the quatermile. Since then, no other Nigerian athlete smelt that performance until recently when Nigerian athletes started running 44.00 secs.
“Nigerian quatermilers are on fire,” Orukpe told AFN Media from his base in the United States. “Throughout my career, this is the first time we are having four 44 runners, and like five to six 45 runners.
“The 400m is really going to be very interesting in the days ahead and in the nearest future, that long standing 44.17secs record by Egbunike will go down.
“I believe our athletes are working toward it. If we, the 400m runners stay focus like this, that record may go down soon.” He added there must be support for the athletes to keep training and maintain the momentum.
“Let us remember that athletes need funding to train themselves for better performances and for that record to go down money must be spent.”
Dem nor dey use two days Eba dey break record,” he added in pidgin English.As the 2024 AFN National Trials begin today at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, all eyes will be on Samuel Ogazi who posted 44.52 last week, the 11th fastest time this season.
There is also Chidi Okezie, who ran 44.97secs on Monday to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics. Also on parade is Dubem Nwachukwu with 44.81 secs, as well as Bamidele Emmanuel 44.88 secs.
The men’s 400m final is a mouth- watering prospect, and given the right conditions, a low 44.00secs could happen in Benin City. Other athletes to watch out for include Nathaniel Ezekiel (45.40 secs), Dubem Amene (45. 36secs), Emmanul Ifeanyi Ojeli (45.63secs) and Sikiru Adeyemi (45.93secs).
