From Akwa Ibom to Texas: Imaobong Nse Uko becomes first Nigerian to qualify for World Championship

Teenage quarter-miler Imaobong Nse-Uko has become the first Nigerian in her category to qualify for the World Championships after she ran a Personal Best time of 51.24 seconds in the 400m at the Big 12 Championships in Lubbock.

18-year-old Imaobong Nse-Uko finished in fifth place in the event as she represented her school, Baylor University in the women’s 400m race but her time was enough to put her in the qualification bracket as the first Nigerian to qualify for the 400m event. She only made her Collegiate debut in January 2022.

The teenager also teamed up with Mariah Ayers, Morake and Kavia Francis to win the gold medal in the women’s 4x400m with a time of 3:26.92 seconds, setting a new meet record in the process.

The junior world champion will now set her sights on the World Championships where she will hope to impress once more as she did at the World U-20 Championship in Nairobi.