After setting a national record for Nigeria, Hampton University alumnus Chidi Okezie and his teammates are heading to the Tokyo Olympics next month! The track and field athlete successfully competed on Nigeria’s mixed 4×400 relay team, evening creating a record for the country.
According to Punch Nigeria, the mixed team saved the day after Nigeria’s men’s 4x100m relay team was not able to qualify for the event. It was the for the third consecutive time the team had missed the mark. The 4 runners weren’t able to meet the 38.46 second target at relays in Lagos on Sunday and sadly left disappointed.
Learn more about how Okezie contributed to bringing Nigeria to the Olympics by reading the inspirational article by Megan Plain at local Virginia station WTKR below.
Hampton University track and field alum Chidi Okezie anchored the Nigerian Mixed 4×400 relay team to an Olympic qualifying and Nigerian National Record time of 3:14.09 on Sunday at the Yabatech Sports Complex in Lagos.
The time ranks them 16th in the world and gives them a spot in the inaugural running of the Mixed 4×400 at the Tokyo Olympics. Opening round of the Mixed 4×400 relay will be on July 30 and the finals will take place the next day.
This marks the eighth Olympian for Hampton University Track and Field under head coach Maurice Pierce. The Pirates have had at least one representative in four of the last five Summer Olympic games.
“I am excited for Chidi to be able to represent the Nigerian National Team at the Tokyo Olympic Games,” said Pierce. “He is a product of the HU track & field program and a prime example of how we continue to produce World Class athletes. Chidi will represent HU well just as all of my other former Olympians did in the past.”
