Seye Ogunlewe is back in contention and available for selection for one of the three places reserved for Nigeria in the men’s 100m event following the latest upgrade of the ranking scores of sprinters by World Athletics ahead of the 19th World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary.
Ogunlewe’s ranking score has jumped from 1205 to 1212 points following his 10.17 run at the True Athletes Classics 2023 in Leverkusen, Germany last weekend
and, as it stands today, will qualify for selection through the world rankings system.
However, the 31 year can only get his dream of running in his first individual event at World Athletics’ flasgship event only if the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, AFN, makes good its stand that only athletes who competed at the Nigerian championships which served as selection trials for the championships will be considered for selection.
If that is done, reigning Nigeria 100m champion, Ushoritse Itshekiri and Ogunlewe, who came first and second at the trials will be considered first with
Favour Ashe, who placed fourth, the third to be selected after Alaba Akintola, who came third in Benin did not meet the entry standard or fall within the
ranking quota for selection.
Unless a further update is done by World Athletics, Ogunlewe has put himself in a good position to tell the AFN he merits a place in the team by the fact
that he was at the trials and placed second and on current form after running inside 10.10 (10.03 and 10.08) twice last month.
Also, Tima Godbless will also be on the plane to Budapest after falling in the ranking from 45 to 48, the last and final qualifying spot for the women’s 100m event.