All the Nigeria’s women 4x100m quartet have to do is push harder and they might just clinch a medal for the country in track and field.
Going into the final billed for 2.15am Saturday, the team featuring, Gloria Asumnu, Blessing Okagbare, Jennifer Madu and Agnes Osazuwa posted 42.55 seconds a season’s best and the fifth fastest time in the semi-final heats yesterday.
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce anchored the Jamaicans to victory in the first heat in 41.79, opening the door for Elaine Thompson to sweep the sprint medals at the Rio Olympics.
Thompson won the women’s 200 metres on Wednesday to add to the 100 title she took from Fraser-Pryce earlier in the week and allowing her a shot at matching Usain Bolt’s feat in the last two Olympics.
The Jamaicans needed Fraser-Pryce’s blistering finish to hold off Britain, who were second fastest on the time sheets in 41.93 ahead of Germany, who won the second heat in 42.18 once the Americans had effectively eliminated themselves.
Ukraine finished third in the first heat in 42.49 with Nigeria, Trinidad and Tobago, Canada and China also going through to the final.
The USA had to wait to confirm their place in the final. The Americans, who alleged that Brazil impeded them on the way around.
