Team Nigeria Arrives in Oregon for 2026 World Athletics U20 Championships

Team Nigeria has arrived in Oregon, United States, ahead of the 2026 World Athletics U20 Championships, with 15 athletes set to compete against some of the best young talents from around the world.

The championship will take place from August 5 to 9 at Hayward Field, University of Oregon, with more than 1,700 athletes from nearly 200 countries expected to compete.

Nigeria will compete in sprint, relay and field events, with the team hoping to produce strong performances and challenge for medals.

Among the athletes representing Nigeria is promising Akwa Ibom runner Jecinta Lawrence Andrew, who will compete in the women’s 400m and feature in the 4x400m relay.

Jecinta, an SS2 student of Community Secondary Commercial School, Ibiaku Itam, Itu Local Government Area, earned her place in the team after an impressive run at the CAA Region II U18/U20 Championships in Dakar, Senegal.

She won gold in the girls’ medley relay and silver in the 400m, adding two international medals to her growing record.

Another athlete with an Akwa Ibom connection, David Udoh, will compete in the men’s 400m and 4x100m relay. Udoh represented Akwa Ibom at the NDDC Games, where he won gold in the 400m and 4x400m relay.

Team Nigeria’s Entries

Women’s 100m
– Miracle Ezechukwu
– Rosemary Nwankwo
– Lucy Nwankwo

Women’s 200m
– Miracle Ezechukwu
– Success Oyibu
– Tejiri Praise Ugoh

Women’s 400m
– Becky Ebyadi
– Faith Ezechukwu
– Jecinta Lawrence Andrew

Women’s 100m Hurdles
– Chika Bakwunye

Women’s Shot Put
– Jessica Oji

Women’s Discus Throw
– Jessica Oji

Women’s 4x100m Relay
– Miracle Ezechukwu
– Rosemary Nwankwo
– Lucy Nwankwo
– Success Oyibu
– Chika Bakwunye

Women’s 4x400m Relay
– Becky Ebyadi
– Faith Ezechukwu
– Jecinta Lawrence Andrew
– Success Oyibu

### Men’s Entries

Men’s 100m
– Gift Bright
– Tejiri Godwin

Men’s 200m
– Gift Bright
– Perfect Faye

Men’s 400m
– David Udoh

Men’s Triple Jump
– Precious Opinion

Men’s 4x100m Relay
– Gift Bright
– Perfect Faye
– Tejiri Godwin
– Precious Opinion
– David Udoh

The Nigerian team combines promising sprinters, relay runners and field-event athletes, with several members competing in more than one event.

Miracle Ezechukwu, for instance, will compete in the women’s 100m and 200m and is also part of the 4x100m relay team. Jessica Oji will contest both the shot put and discus throw.

On the men’s side, Gift Bright will compete in the 100m and 200m, while also featuring in the 4x100m relay. Perfect Faye will compete in the 200m and relay, while Precious Opinion will combine the triple jump with the relay.

The Oregon 2026 championships will be the 21st edition of the World Athletics U20 Championships.

With Team Nigeria now in Oregon and preparations complete, attention will turn to the competition as the young athletes look to make their mark on the world stage.