Amusan Claims Nigeria First Commonwealth Games Women’s 4x100m Title In 28 Years

Nigeria women’s 4x100m quarter of Tobi Amusan, Favour Ofili, Rosemary Chukwuma and Grace Nwokocha made history Sunday afternoon at the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham by becoming the first women’s relay team to win a Commonwealth Games Gold in 28 years.

The quartet did in record-breaking fashion, running 42.10 seconds to break the barely old 42.22 seconds African record they set in Oregon, the USA at the World Athletics championships.

World and Commonwealth Games 100m hurdles champion and record holder, Amusan started the historic run with a brilliant

the first leg before handing over to Ofili who ensured Nigeria maintained the advantage before giving Chukwuma, the individual 100m finalist the baton.

Chukwuma ran the curve perfectly and handed over to reigning Nigerian 100m queen, Nwokocha in the first position.

The21-year Nwokocha maintained the advantage despite the threat by Great Britain’s anchor leg runner, Darly Neita to bring home Nigeria’s first women’s relay gold in well over two decades.

Four years ago Amusan was part of the relay team that finished third at the Gold Coast in Australia.

Nigeria won her first 4x100m relay Commonwealth Games gold in 1994 in Victoria, Canada when the quartet of aith Idehen, Mary Tombiri, Christy Opara-Thompson, and  Mary Onyali ran a then 42.99 seconds Games record to win.

The country’s first actual 4x100m relay medal was won four years earlier in Auckland, New Zealand where the quartet of Beatrice Utondu, Fatima Yusuf, Charity Opara, and  Chioma Ajunwa won a bronze medal.

Eight years ago, Blessing Okagbare, who completed the aspirant’s double inspired the team to a silver medal finish.