Four athletes pick Athens spot

The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has announced the name of four athletes that will represent Nigeria at the Athens games.

According to Alhaji A.K Amu of the AFN, the quartet of Mary Onyali, Endurance Ojokolo, Uchenna Emedolu and Deji Aliu have already made the Olympic standard thus qualifying to sprint in the colours of Nigeria at the 2004 Olympics.

Amu also confided in Nigeriasports.com that the country relay teams are yet to qualify for the games.

“We do not have a team for both the 4 X 100meters and 4 X 400meters male and female yet” said Amu.

“I hope we make the standard in the next couple of weeks because the relay is one of our medal prospect and we cannot afford to miss out on it” he added.

The others
Strikingly, Commonwealth and African shot-put champion, Vivian Chukwuemeka is also expected to make the Olympic standards before the deadline set aside by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The Azusa Pacific state University undergraduate who has been in great form for her school stressed that she’s determined to be at the games and has intensified her training programme to make the standards.

[photo alt="Viv" width=150 height=180 align=right]Viv[/photo]

“I was injured few months back and fully recovered only in February and my coach here in the United States insist there’s no need to rush things and am taking a step after the other, but I can assure you that I’ll achieve the standard in the next couple of weeks” she told Nigeriasports.com

Meanwhile, one of the new kids on the block and world’s number three in the 60meters, Olusoji Fasuba is optimistic of making the Olympic team and making good use of the opportunity.

“I have run alongside the world’s best and the Olympics will see most of my childhood dreams coming true and I promise not to let my country down” he told Nigeriasports.com.