By Faith Anisiobi, The Sight News
Nigeria’s national women’s javelin record holder, Kelechi Nwanaga, and UTEP Miners thrower Esther Osisike have committed ₦200,000 in prize money to the women’s javelin and discus events at the Athletic Heat 10th Anniversary Meet.
The competition is scheduled for November 7, 2026, at the Yaba College of Technology Sports Complex in Lagos, with each athlete contributing ₦100,000 to reward the top three finishers in her respective event.
The announcement was contained in a press release signed by Maxwell Kumoye, Chairman of the Media Committee of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), on October 29, 2026.
Under the prize structure, winners in both disciplines will receive ₦50,000 each, while runners-up will earn ₦30,000 and third-place finishers ₦20,000.
Nwanaga is sponsoring the women’s javelin, while Osisike is backing the women’s discus, providing additional incentives for athletes competing at the anniversary meet.
Nwanaga, a leading figure in Nigerian women’s javelin, has an impressive record at continental and international competitions. She won silver at the 2015 African Junior Championships before claiming gold at the African Games that year.
She later won the African Championships title in 2018 and successfully defended her African Games crown in 2019. She also finished sixth at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Her personal best of 58.15 metres, recorded in Ozoro in July 2017, remains the Nigerian national record in the women’s javelin.
Osisike, who competes for the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) Miners in the United States, has also recorded significant achievements in collegiate athletics.
During the 2025 outdoor season, she won the Conference USA discus title with a personal-best throw of 56.22 metres, earning qualification for the NCAA West First Round.
She also won the shot put and discus events at the Desert Heat Classic and Sun City Classic, while setting personal bests of 55.27 metres in the hammer throw and 15.13 metres in the shot put.
Her progress began in 2024 when she qualified for the NCAA West First Round in the discus and earned All-Conference USA Second Team honours after winning silver at the Conference USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships with a throw of 49.85 metres.
Athletic Heat Chief Executive Officer, Ese Oguma, welcomed the sponsorships, expressing appreciation to both athletes for supporting the anniversary meet.
Oguma emphasized the importance of contributions from members of the athletics community in sustaining competitions that provide platforms for athletes to improve their skills, gain recognition and earn financial rewards.
The 10th Anniversary Meet will feature several track and field disciplines, bringing athletes together in Lagos to celebrate a decade of Athletic Heat’s contribution to Nigerian athletics.
With Nwanaga and Osisike backing the women’s javelin and discus, respectively, the throwing events will offer competitors more than medals, with cash rewards also at stake.
