One of the quarter milers at the Warri Grand Prix event last week, Abiola Onakoya, believes the organisers could have done better, even as Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) officials and other athletes applauded the men's 4x400m relay team qualification for the forthcoming World Championship in Russia.
Nigeria Team A beat Nigeria Team B (3:08.41) and the Customs (3:09.03) to cross the finishing line in 3:04.26secs, barely making the qualifying time of 3:05.00.
"We met the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) qualifying time but we would also look for an opportunity to run faster times," Onakoya said.
"Fortunately, the World Championships is about two months away so we still have time to improve," he added.
The University of Texas El Paso undergraduate won three medals including two gold medals at the Conference USA Track and Field Championships last month where he led his Miners teammates to a medal sweep in the 400m. He also lowered his Personal Best from 45.89 to 45.82 at the Warri meet and is confident that faster times will be achieved at the national trials in Calabar, Cross River State.
"We hope for good weather in Calabar and when this happens, the best of Nigerian athletes will be on display," he submitted.
The men's 4x100m relay squad failed to meet the required time for the Moscow championships as their time of 39:25 fell short of the IAAF standard by five seconds.
National Mirror