Posted by Ademola Oni on
Nigeria recorded one of its worst outings in an international athletics meet as the nation's contingent to the 2005 World Athletics Championships, in Helsinki, Finland, could not win a medal in the nine-day event, which ended on Sunday.
Nigeria recorded one of its worst outings in an international athletics meet as the nation's contingent to the 2005 World Athletics Championships, in Helsinki, Finland, could not win a medal in the nine-day event, which ended on Sunday.
The Nigerian team, which had boasted about its potency in relays, finished without a moment to fly the green-white-green national flag.
In the sprints, which had remained the nation's most productive specialty, the team did not win any medal, both in team and individual events.
The nearest the team moved to the medal zone in the sprints was Nigeria's semifinal appearance in the men's 100m individual race, where Olusola Fasuba and Uche Emedolu failed in their bid to appear in the event's final.
In the relays, believed to be the contingent's brightest medal hope, the men's 4x100m relay team unbelievably finished last in the first heat while the female team was a step ahead of their male counterparts by finishing seventh in the final of the same event.
The nation's team however managed a final outing in the men's 4x400m final but also lost out on the opportunity to come back home with a consolatory medal.
Before the commencement of the championship, the team had given an impression that despite its short preparation, the nation's contingent would still pick some medals, especially in the relays.
The United States of America's came top of the medals' table with 14 gold, eight silver and three bronze medals, while Russia came second with seven gold, eight silver and five bronze medals.
Ethiopia came third winning three gold, three silver and two bronze medals while Morocco won a gold and two silver medals to place ninth. Uganda picked a gold medal.
Nigeria's West African neighbour, Ghana, won a silver and a bronze medal.
The PUNCH, Monday, August 15, 2005