By Gracious Akujobi Nigerian athletes dreaming of being in Glasgow for the Commonwealth Games must train hard to meet the new standards set by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN).
The AFN in its bid to parade only the best athletes in Glasgow, says all athletes must attend the national trials as well as meet minimum standards that could make them medal potentials.
AFN’s Technical Director, Omatseye Nesiama, told Prompt News Online that male sprinters for 100m expecting to make the trip to Glasgow must run 10.25 second. The standard for the girls is 11.45 seconds.
Also, for 200m, the standard is 20.80 seconds for male and 23.55 seconds for female while in the 400m, the male must run 45.65 sec and the female 52.40 seconds.
The 800m athletes must run 1.47.50 seconds for male and 2.02.80 sec for female, just as for male in the 110 hurdles is 13.90 and 13.50 seconds for the women’s 100m hurdles.
Those in 400m hurdles must run 50.50 seconds (male) and 57.90 seconds (female), while the set standard for high jump is 2.17 meters male and 1.80 meters female.
Athletes in the long jump event must leap 7.65 meters for male and 6.20 meters for female. For those in triple jump, the standard is 16.10 meters for male and 13.25 meters for female.
Nesiama further disclosed that for an athlete to compete in the pole vault event, the male must leap 5.20m and the female 4.05 meters, just as shot put athletes must throw 17.60 meters for male and 15.50m for female.
The standard set for discus throwers is 56.00m (male) and 55.00m (female), while competitors in the Hammer events must throw 65.00m (male) and 61.00m (female). Those in javelin event must throw 70.00m male and 51.00m (female).
In the same vein, decathlon athletes (male) must be able to gather 7,300 points, while their female counterparts (Hepthalon) must gather 5,600 points to make the list.
The male 4x100m relay team must run 39.50 seconds and the female 44.55 seconds to be in Team Nigeria’s contingent to Glasgow, just as the AFN said those wishing to compete in the 4x400m relay team must run 3.04.50 seconds (male) and 3.36.60 seconds for female.
According to AFN, all the standards must be achieved between January 1, 2013 and June 23 2014.
