Nigeria picks Relays, women shot put

LAGOS, Nigeria: VIVIAN Chukwuemeka-Peters, a Social Works major of Azusa Pacific University last night was named in a lean Nigerian team that also includes only the men and women 4 X 100M / 4 X 400M Relay teams for next August’s IAAF World Championships in Athletics in Helsinki, Finland.

Names of other athletes in the relays were not readily made available to nigeriasports.com as the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) General Secretary, Mrs. Maria Wophil said it was embargoed till Tuesday morning.

"The list would be made available Tuesday morning to the media and I assure you that it will get to you then. Just exercise some patience till tomorrow," Wophil said late Monday.

But Sunday Bada, a deputy superintendent of police, who is chairman of the federation’s technical committee told nigeriasports.com that the quality of athletes performance at the concluded Nigerian Championships in Abuja, July 7-9 did not encourage them to present an enlarged contingent to Helsinki.

"We would like to have the full benefit of our participation in Helsinki and in this wise, we don’t just want to present athletes because others are presenting large teams. So, we would just like to present athletes in the events we think there is a chance for us to get into the finals," Bada told nigeriasports.com

Ms. Armelia Edet, senior coach of the federation said the inclusion of Chukwuemeka tothe World Championships was to put her in a right frame ahead of the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia. She won the gold medal at the Manchester 2002 Games.

"Her presence in Helsinki is also to boost her confidence ahead of the Commonwealth Games and to enable her successfully defend the title in Melbourne," Ms. Edet told nigeriasports.com

Chukwuemeka won the Abuja meet with a throw of 17.89 metres, but said she could go further than that before Helsinki. She made a new African record last April in Azusa with a throw of 18.33 metres.

Possible Athletes:

4 X 100M (Women): Endurance Ojokolo, Mercy Nku, Gloria Kemeasuade and Damola Osayemi; (Men): Uchenna Emedolu, Adetokunboh O. Fasuba, Deji Aliu and Aaron Egbele.

4 X 400M (Women): Christy Ekpukon, Bisi Afolabi, Sekinat Adesanya and Catherine Obilor; (Men): Godday James, Musa Audu, Saul Weigopwa and Bola Lawal.

Shot Put (Women): Vivian Chukwuemeka-Peters.

By Jo Benson