Nigeria sprinters Favour Ofili and Samuel Ogazi, as well as shot put thrower Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, are among the highest gainers in the latest World Athletics rankings released by the body after the Paris 2024 Olympics, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Ofili, who finished sixth in the women’s 200m, which was won by the USA’s Gabby Thomas, moved up from the 31st to eighth place in the 200m rankings.
She takes the lead in the event in Africa and is currently ranked 138th in the overall (all events) women’s ranking.
Despite not featuring in Paris, Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson retained her top spot in the event and is followed by new Olympic champion Thomas.
In the men’s 400m, Ogazi, who also reached the final in Paris, is now third in Africa and 12th in the world, taking a huge leap from 23rd last month.
The 18-year-old had a good run at the Olympics, becoming the first Nigerian to reach the men’s 400m final in 36 years after Innocent Egbunike at the 1988 Games in Seoul.
Also, 19-year-old Kanyinsola Ajayi, who reached the semi-finals of the men’s 100m, moved two places up in the event’s rankings from 25th to 23rd. He is seventh in Africa.
His compatriots Utsheoritse Itsekiri and Favour Ashe are ranked 36th and 42nd, respectively.
In the men’s shot put, two-time African champion Enekwechi is now seventh in the world after reaching the final at the Olympics.
He moved just a place up in the table.
Long jumpers Ruth Usoro also moved from 26th to 22nd in the women’s long jump after reaching the final in Paris, just as Prestina Ochonogor also moved from 30th to 25th.
In the overall rankings, pole vaulter and multiple world record breaker Mondo Duplantis is the highest-ranked male athlete, followed by Norway’s utility runner Jakob Ingebrigtsen, while new Olympic 100m champion Noah Lyles is third.
Kenya are dominant in the women’s category, with 5,000m and 10000m runners Beatrice Chebet and world record holder Faith Kipyegon in first and second, respectively, while the Netherlands sprinter Femke Bol is third.
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