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Nigeria’s 400 metres specialist, Nathaniel Samson, has called for greater financial and institutional support for athletes as the country’s men’s 4×400 metres relay team targets an improved time of 3:03 this season.

Samson, 19, who featured in the men’s 4×400 metres relay at the just-concluded Athletics Classic in Calabar, said the team recently clocked between 3:04 and 3:05 and believes more competitions and support would help them achieve the target.

The athlete, who has represented Nigeria at the Olympics, Commonwealth Games, All African Games and the African Championships, noted that Nigerian athletes are committed to projecting the country positively on the global stage despite the challenges they face.

According to him, athletes continue to invest enormous time, sacrifice and energy into training and competitions, stressing that adequate financial backing and institutional support would significantly improve their performance and results.

Samson spoke at the end of the three-day MTN CHAMP Athletics Classic held at the UJ Esuene Stadium in Calabar, which attracted secondary schools and athletics teams from several states across the South-South region, as well as foreign participants.

He described the competition as an important grassroots initiative for discovering and nurturing young talents in athletics.

The athlete noted that programmes of such nature provide opportunities for young runners to be identified early, trained and monitored through a structured development pathway.

He added that sustained support for grassroots athletics could help Nigeria produce more world-class athletes in the mould of Tobi Amusan and Nathaniel Ezekiel.

Meanwhile, the competition recorded several impressive performances from young athletes across different categories in track and field events.

Grace and Gold won the girls’ relay event with a time of 48.89 seconds, finishing ahead of Secondary Commercial School, Ibiaku Itam in Akwa Ibom State, and Government Secondary School, Idang in Calabar South, Cross River State, while Golden Edge secured the bronze medal in another relay race with a time of 44.58 seconds.

In the women’s 200 metres, Toheebat Jimoh recorded a new personal best of 24.51 seconds to win the race after previously claiming the 400 metres title earlier in the competition.

Miracle Uwem Donald finished second in 24.59 seconds, while Odot Udo placed third with a time of 24.88 seconds.

Olaoluwa Obashola won the men’s 200 metres in 21.74 seconds despite running into a -2.0 m/s headwind, ahead of Joshua Wali and Ezekiel Asuquo, who finished second and third respectively.

Other winners included Miracle Ezechukwu, Rosemary Nwankwo, Liberty Okon, Success Onu and Emmanuel Akolo, who all claimed victories in their respective categories.

In the field events, Samuel Kure of Team Nigeria dominated the men’s javelin throw with a best mark of 77.50 metres, while Clergy Edet won the women’s high jump with a new personal best of 1.75 metres.

We need more support to break 3:03 relay target – Samson