Commonwealth Games: Amusan-inspired Team Nigeria clinch women’s relay gold

Nigeria has won the 4x100m women’s relay final of the Commonwealth Games finishing ahead of England and Jamaica, respectively.

Inspired by World Athletics Championships and Commonwealth Games 100m hurdles champion, Tobi Amusan, the Nigerian team won with a new African record of 42.10 second.

The previous mark of 42.22s was set by Team Nigeria barely a month ago at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon, USA.

The women’s team comprising of Amusan, Favour Ofili, Rosemary Chukwuma and Grace Nwokocha also made history at the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham by becoming the first Nigerian women’s relay team to win a Commonwealth Games gold.

Amusan started the historic run with a brilliant first leg before handing over to Ofili who ensured Nigeria maintained the advantage before giving Chukwuma, the individual 100m finalist the baton.

Chukwuma ran the curve perfectly and handed over to reigning Nigerian 100m queen, Nwokocha in first position.

The 21-year-old Nwokocha maintained the advantage despite the threat from England’s anchor leg runner, Darly Neita, to bring home Nigeria’s first ever Commonwealth women’s relay gold.

Earlier, the Nigerian men’s 4x100m team won bronze in the final of the relays, finishing behind England.

The men’s team, comprising of Udodi Onwuzurike, Favour Ashe, Alaba Akintola and Raymond Ekevwo also made history with the bronze medal win.

The medal is the first by the men’s 4x100m relay team since 1982 when the quartet of Lawrence Adegbehingbe, Iziaq Adeyanju, Samson Oyeledun and Ikpoto Eseme ran 39.15 seconds to win the gold ahead of the Ben Johnson-led Canadian team (39.30) and Scotland (39.33).