Nigeria’s Ezekiel Nathaniel and Udodi Chudi Onwuzurike ended their campaigns at the World Athletics Ultimate Championships in Budapest with top-eight finishes in the men’s 400 metres hurdles and 200 metres respectively.
Nathaniel finished sixth in a highly competitive 400m hurdles final, clocking 48.23 seconds after entering the medal race on the back of an impressive performance in the semi-finals.
The Nigerian had run 47.75 seconds in the semi-final to secure his place among the finalists, but could not reproduce that time when the medals were decided.
Brazil’s Alison dos Santos claimed the world title with a brilliant 45.98 seconds, while American Rai Benjamin took silver in a season’s best 46.40. Norway’s Karsten Warholm completed the podium in 46.78.
Germany’s Emil Agyekum finished fourth with a national record of 47.10, while Qatar’s Abderrahman Samba was fifth in 47.78, just ahead of Nathaniel.
In the men’s 200m, Onwuzurike also competed in the final but finished eighth in 20.45 seconds.
He had produced a stronger performance in the semi-final, clocking 20.16 to book his place in the championship decider.
American Kenneth Bednarek dominated the final, winning the world title in a world-leading 19.52 seconds.
Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo secured silver with a season’s best 19.76, while another American, Courtney Lindsey, took bronze in 19.79.
South Africa’s Sinesipho Dambile finished fourth in 19.91, followed by Canada’s Andre De Grasse in 19.92, Jamaica’s Bryan Levell in 20.07 and Canada’s Aaron Brown in 20.23.
Although Nigeria missed out on medals in both events, Nathaniel and Onwuzurike reaching their respective finals ensured the country had representation among the world’s best in two highly competitive men’s track events.