MTN Champs debuts a new Olympic-standard mixed relays at the Lagos Continental Relays.
The new Olympics approved relay format was used on day 3 of the MTN Champs season 3 Continental Relays on Friday April 11, 2025 at the Yabatech Sports Complex.
“We are all in the midst of history. It will be written in books that the very first mixed 100m relay was held in Nigeria, it was right here at the MTN Champs competition,” Bukola Olopade, director general, National Sports Competition (NSC), said.
He also announced a new initiative called The Relay Project. “It’s a four-year project which we believe can push Nigeria to the very top of podium standing, either at the Commonwealth Games, All-Africa Games and even the 2028 Olympics.”
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The new relay format specifies baton exchanges across both male and female gender athletes, beginning with a female runner handing over to another female, who then passes to a male athlete, and finally to another male who finishes the race.
The MTN Champs mixed relays included both 100m and 400m distances.
Seven teams participated in the event which include Team Continental, Team Benin, OAU Spartans from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Zabranto Athletics, D’Victors A and D’Victors B.
In the 4 x 100m mixed relay, Team Continental took first place at 42.91s, followed by Zabranto Athletics at 44.69s in second and D’Victors A at 44.88s in third.
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Record holders from the race include Favor “The Nigerian Nightmare” Ashe, who anchored the final leg and pulled ahead with at least 30-meter lead to finish.
Other key runners included Iyanuoluwa Bada on the first leg, Janet Adesiyan on the second leg, and Chidera Ezeakor on the third leg.
“I’m excited that this was the first time doing this in Nigeria,” Ashe said, reflecting on his experience at the mixed relays.
On Nigeria’s potential in the upcoming mixed 4 x 100 relays, he added: “We have a team in the world relays happening next month. With what I saw today, with our best guys out there, I think we can expect Team Nigeria to bring home a medal.”
