U-20 champs: Ezechukwu, Oyibu catch World Athletics’ attention

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World Athletics has spotlighted Nigeria’s Miracle Ezechukwu and Success Oyibu among the athletes to watch in the women’s 200m at the 2026 World U20 Championships, which will be held from August 5 to 9 in Oregon, USA, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

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The global athletics governing body highlighted the Nigerian duo as strong contenders in the event following their impressive performances this season.

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Ezechukwu heads into the championships as the reigning Nigerian women’s 200m champion and boasts a personal best of 22.77 seconds, making her one of Africa’s leading hopefuls in the event.

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She is also a double gold medallist from the 2025 African U18/U20 Championships, where she led a Nigerian sweep in the girls’ 200m final after taking the 100m title.

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The 17-year-old was also part of Nigeria’s team to the just-concluded 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, competing in the women’s 100m and reaching the semi-finals. She was also part of the women’s 4x100m relay team that reached the final.

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Ahead of the World U20 Championships, the Nigerian Tulip International Colleges product is optimistic about her chances.

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“I think I’m good to go. It’s just going now, rest, focus and talk to God. My biggest target this year was this Commonwealth and World Junior. When I’m done here, I’m moving to World Junior, and I believe and trust that I’m going to win something over there,” she said after reaching the semi-finals at the Commonwealth Games.

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Her compatriot Oyibu has also enjoyed an outstanding campaign, clocking a personal best of 22.90 seconds while competing for Baylor University in the United States.

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Oyibu is also a multiple medallist from the 2025 African Junior Championships.

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At the African U18/U20 Championships in Abeokuta, she led a Nigerian sweep in the U-20 women’s 200m, winning in a new personal best of 23.56 seconds ahead of Chioma Nweke (23.95 seconds) and Lucy Nwankwo (24.24 seconds).

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She had earlier claimed silver in the U-20 women’s 100m behind Nweke before anchoring Nigeria’s U-20 women’s 4x100m relay team to gold in 45.58 seconds alongside Nwankwo, Anita Enaruna and Nweke.

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According to the official World Athletics entry list, Nigeria will compete in Oregon with 15 athletes, comprising 10 females and five males.

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