Former Hampton track and field athletes Chidi Okezie and Edose Ibadin are preparing to compete for Nigeria at the Paris Olympics. Both were trained by head coach Maurice Pierce while at Hampton.
Okezie will first compete in the mixed 4x400m relay (Aug. 2, 1:10 pm EST), while Edose Ibadin will start his first race in the 800m at 5:55 am EST on Aug. 7.
Okezie, a 2015 graduate, has qualified for Nigeria’s 4x400m relay team, the mixed 4x400m relay squad, and the 400m individual event.
While at Hampton, he was an All-American sprinter and was awarded All-MEAC honors in indoor and outdoor track in the 200—and 400-meter dash and the 4x400m relay.
Okezie also ran the anchor leg of the United States 4x400m relay team, which won a gold medal at the 2012 World Junior Championships in Barcelona. He reached the finals of the 400m at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
At the 2018 African Championships, Okezie earned a bronze medal in the 400m. He also anchored the Nigerian 4x400m relay team, which earned a bronze medal.
Ibadin also graduated in 2015. He has qualified for the 800m.
As a Pirate, Ibadin was named Second Team All-American in the 800m and First and Second Team All-MEAC across the 800m and 4x400m.
He currently holds the Nigerian record in the 800m at 1:44.65. He helped Nigeria win the gold medal in the 4x100m relay at the 2023 African Games.
A full schedule is listed here below (Times are subject to change)
(Chidi Okezie) Aug 2nd Mixed 4×400 first round 1:10 pm EST
(Chidi Okezie) Aug 3rd mixed 4×400 final 2:55 pm EST*
(Chidi Okezie) Aug 4th 400m first round 1:05 pm EST
(Chidi Okezie) Aug 5th 400m Repechages 5:28 am EST*
(Chidi Okezie) Aug 6th 400m semifinals 1:35 pm EST*
(Edose Ibadin) Aug 7th 800m first round 5:55 am EST
(Chidi Okezie) Aug 7th 400m final 3:20 pm EST*
(Edose Ibadin) Aug 8th 800m Repechages 6:08 am EST*
(Chidi Okezie) Aug 9th 4x400m first round 5:05 am EST
(Edose Ibadin) Aug 9th 800m semifinal 5:30 am EST*
(Edose Ibadin) Aug 10th 800m final 1:05 pm EST*
(Chidi Okezie) Aug 10th 4x400m final 3:00 pm EST*
*= depends on prior results
Courtesy: Hampton athletics