Nigeria’s mixed 4x400m relay team will be making its debut appearance at the upcoming 2020 Tokyo Olympics after breaking the national and African record.

The team achieved the milestone at the Sports Complex of the Yaba College of Technology, Lagos after smashing the previous record of 3:18.53 by four seconds to set a new time of 3:14.09, Voice of Nigeria reports.

Two teams, each of which were in a woman-man-woman-man format, represented Nigeria at the race, but only one of the teams comprised of Nse Imaobong, Samson Nathaniel, Patience Okon-George, and Chidi Okezie, ensured that Nigeria secured its first ever passage to the global sporting fiesta.

Nigeria will now be among 16 other teams that will compete in the mixed relay events at the Games in Japan. 

The victory also ensures that Nigeria replaces Czech Republic in 15th qualifying spot of the mixed 4x400m rankings, up from the 25th spot.

Nigeria’s second team at the race comprising Yinka Ajayi, Sikiru Adeyemi, Amarachukwu Obi, and Emmanuel Ojeli finished second.

Although the men’s 4x100m team comprising Enoch Adegoke, Usheoritse Itsekiri, Jerry Jakpa, and Godson Brume couldn’t book their place at the Olympics as they ran 38.63s which was short of the qualifying time, Nigeria’s Abasiono Akpan emerged victorious in the women’s 400m hurdles final after running 58.82s.