Team Nigeria takes early lead at African Seniors Athletics Championships in Douala

Team Nigeria began its quest to win a record 9th African Seniors Athletics Championships title on a sound footing in Douala, the economic capital of Cameroon on Friday.

Team Nigeria won two gold medals on Day 1 in men’s Shot Put and women’s Discus to sit at the top of the medal table.

In the women’s Discus event, it was a clean sweep for Nigeria with Ashley Anumba taking gold ahead of Obiageri Amaechi and Chioma Onyekwere with the bronze medal.

Anumba recorded a throw of 59.30m in her final attempt, improving on her 59.01m that kept her in the lead throughout the competition.

African Games Champion, Obiageri Amaechi claimed Silver with a throw of 58.80m while defending champion, Chioma Onyekwere settled for Bronze with a throw of 57.96m.

African Indoor Record holder and five times Nigeria champion in the men’s Shot Put, Chukwuebuka Enekwechi made it a hat trick of crowns at the African Senior Championships after extending his dominance on the continent to six years, taking the first gold medal of the 2024 African Championships in Douala, Cameroon.

Enekwechi who had won the last two editions of the Championships in Asaba 2018 and Mauritius 2022, improved on his championships record of 21.20m set two years ago in Saint Pierre by 2cm, winning gold with a new Championship record of 21.22m.

Eight finals will be decided on Day 2, tat the competition. They include men and women 100m, 4×400m mix relay, men’s 10,000m and women’s 100m hurdles.

The Senior Athletics Championships ends on the 26th of this month.