By Faith Anisiobi, The Sight News
Team Nigeria will continue its campaign at the 2026 World Athletics U20 Championships in Oregon on Thursday with Jessica Oji, Jecinta Lawrence and Precious Opinion leading the country’s challenge across the field and track events.
Fresh from winning a silver medal in the women’s shot put at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, Oji will begin Nigeria’s Day Two campaign in the women’s shot put qualification (Group A) at 6 p.m., aiming to secure a place in the final and build on her recent international success.
In the men’s triple jump, Precious Opinion will compete in the qualification round (Group A) at 8 p.m., seeking the qualifying mark needed to progress to the medal event.
Nigeria will also feature in the mixed 4x100m relay, with the national quartet scheduled to compete in Round One, Heat Three at 8:43 p.m. as they bid to advance to the next stage of the competition.
The women’s 400m will see Jecinta Lawrence line up in Heat Four at 9:14 p.m., while Faith Ezechukwu will compete in Heat Seven at 9:35 p.m., with both athletes targeting semifinal qualification.
David Udoh will represent Nigeria in the men’s 400m, taking to the track in Heat Four at 10:06 p.m. The young quarter-miler will be hoping to extend Nigeria’s impressive recent performances in the event following the country’s success at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
If successful, the Nigerian athletes will return for the semifinal rounds scheduled for the early hours of Friday, with the men’s 400m semifinals set for 3:44 a.m. and the women’s event at 4:08 a.m.
The National Sports Commission (NSC) said it remains committed to supporting the country’s emerging talents as Nigeria strengthens its athlete development pathway ahead of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
With representation across the throws, jumps, sprints and relays, Team Nigeria will be aiming to make further progress and challenge for honours as the World Athletics U20 Championships gather momentum in Oregon.
