Kelechi Nwanaga of Nigeria has emerged the new Africa Champion of the women’s Javelin Throw at the ongoing African Athletics Senior Championships in Asaba.
Nwanaga threw 56.96 to place first while South Africa’s Jo-Ane Van Dyk placed second with a throw of 53.72 metres.
Josephine Lalaw Joyce of Uganda finished third with a throw of 51.33 in the women’s Javelin.
The All African Games Champion said both her father and the fans motivated her to secure the gold medal.
“My motivation is that I’m on Nigeria soil competing, seeing the crowd cheering me up. My dad was watching me compete and I did not want to disappoint him but make him proud”.
“I’m so happy, I thank the Almighty God for everything and I really worked for it and I give God the glory it came through”, she said.
She told ACLSports.com that her next target is the World Championship as well as the All African Games next year.
“In this championship, I had the determination to throw above 62 meters but the 62 meters did not come.I won’t kill myself but rather train ahead to make sure I qualify for the World Championships and the All African Games next year”, Nwanaga concluded