By Ben Efe

Two national records     were shattered at the Warri Relays and CAA Grand prix Friday at  the Warri Township Stadium in Delta State, just as the Nigerian men 4x400m put up a spectacular performance to grab a qualification ticket for the IAAF World Championships August in Moscow, Russia.

Women hammer thrower, Queen Obisesan heaved 62.98m to erase Funke Adeoye’s mark of 61.75 set in 2006. Obisean who has been training in Germany was challenged by Athletics Federation of Nigeria technical director, Navy Commodore Omatseye Nesiama to justify her trip to Germany and Obisesan  worked at it in the AFN Golden League, and finally  nailed it inon Friday. In the men’s steeple chase, Sudi Hamajam thrashed Zacharia Fwangfur’s life long 8.58.56 seconds, when he coasted home at 8.55.78. seconds.

However, the thrill of the evening was when Noah Akwu anchored the Nigerian 4x400m to a respectable 3.04.26 to beat the 3.05.00 world championships qualification standard. They calmed the nerves of athletics officials who had watched the men 4×100 fall short of the qualification time of 39.20 seconds. They ran 39.25 seconds.

“They could have beaten the time. But there wasn’t a strong enough opposition to push them to do it.

“Certainly they have shown what they can do and I am sure at the All Nigeria/Cross River Championships they will run it,” said former sprinter Uchenna Emedolu.

That notwithstanding, home boy Ogho Oghene Egwero  ran his season best a 10.16. It was a fraction of second shy of the 10.15 world standard. Junior athlete Harry Chukwudike took the second the position with his 10.47sec while US Matthew Pritchest returned 10.50secs.

In the 100m women,  US based Gloria Asumnu (11.34secs) beat junior athlete Peace Ukoh (11.41secs) while Mariam Bassey (11.60 secs) to the third position.