Nse Uko runs new 51.66 season’s best to win 400m event at Michael Johnson Invitational

Former World U20 champion, Imaobong Nse Uko was a step ahead of her competitors as she powered home first in the women’s 400m, running a personal season’s best of 51.66 at the Michael Johnson Invitational in Waco, Texas.

The 19 year old’s 51.66 run was the only sub-52 seconds performance of the day as her nearest rival, Shiann Salmon ran 52.04 to finish second in a race veteran Nigerian quartermiler, Patience Okon George did not start despite being listed to run in heat 6.

Nse Uko’s time is the third joint fastest of her career after running her lifetime best of 51.24 at the Big 12 Conference Championships in Lubbock, Texas last may and 51.55 to win the World U20 Championship gold in Nairobi, Kenya in 2021.

The talented Nigerian is expected to set new lifetime bests in the 200m and 400m this outdoor season after her impressive indoor campaign where she set a new
23.57 personal best in the 200m and African U20 record of 52.10 in the 400m.

Nse Uko is also expected to be the first Nigerian in eight years to break the 51 seconds barrier in the 400m outdoor.

Meanwhile, Amarachukwu Obi ran 54.99 in the 400m to finish fifth in the final classification at the Crimson Tide Invitational held at the Sam Bailey Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.