Ese Brume is poised to make history at the ongoing World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary later on Sunday (today) after she leaped a distance of 6.72m to secure a spot in the final of the long jump event on Saturday.
It’s her third straight final in the competition history.
The 27-year-old placed fourth in Group A of the qualification heat and could become the first Nigerian to win three medals at the championships if she wins a medal in the final on Sunday (today).
She won silver at the last edition in Oregon in 2022 and added to her bronze at the Doha World Championships in 2019.
Nigeria’s second competitor in the women’s long jumper, Ruth Usoro, failed to reach the finals after she finished eighth in Group B with a jump of 6.60m.
Earlier on Saturday, Team Nigeria’s shot putter, Chukwuebuka Enekwechi and the 4x400m mixed relay quartet of Dubem Nwachukwu, Patience Okon George, Nathaniel Ezekiel and Imaobong Nse Uko failed to make it beyond the group stage.
Enekwechi, a finalist in the last two editions, started on the wrong note at the National Athletics Centre in Budapest with a no-throw in the opening round.
African champion in the men’s shot put, Enekwechi missed out on qualifying for the final after placing seventh in Group A with a best throw of 20.66m, which wasn’t adequate to take him to the next round.
Enekwechi finished eighth in his debut at the Championships in 2019 in Doha, Qatar and 11th in Oregon, USA last year.
The 4x400m Mixed relay team finished sixth in the second semi-final heat after running a 3:14.38sec personal season’s best. They could not progress from their group yesterday.
The team made it to the final last year in Oregon but could not replicate that in Budapest.
The duo Seye Ogunlewe and Usheoritse Itsekiri qualified for the semi-finals of the 100m event after running 10.07secs (0.0) and 10.17secs (-0.6) in their respective heats but their compatriot Favour Ashe crashed was disqualified after making a false start.
