For Opeyemi Deborah Oke, competing at the 19th Championships in Budapest, Hungary, brings a whole new level of excitement to her young athletics career.
The 19-year-old Oke, a 400m and 200m runner, will be participating in her first senior Championships, after winning gold in the 400m at the African U-20 championships held in Ndola, Zambia, in April this year. This followed her exploits in the Nairobi 2021 Junior Championships, where she won the 4x400m gold alongside Ella Onojuwvevwo, Favour Ofili and ImeobongNse Uko. She also won gold medal in the mixed relay with Johnson Nnamani, Nse Uko, Bamidele Ajayi and Onojuvwevwo.
With a Personal Best of 52.67 seconds, Oke is looking forward to making Team Nigeria proud in Budapest.
She is also expected to compete in the 4x400m women and the mixed relays.
“I am so excited in participating in the Championships because this is my first big competition,” she toldMainlandmetronews.com.
“Running with the big names I have seen on TV is the best experience I can ever wish for. And just like I had a good time in Zambia, I am also looking forward to a rewarding outing in Budapest. With God, everything is possible. He can guide us to success, and I believe I will be part of it in Budapest,” Oke stated.
Speaking further, she stated that following in the footsteps of top Nigerian quarter milers like FalilatOgunkoya, Fatima Yusuf and Charity Opara is her goal.
“I am working hard to be in the world’s top three list of runners. Yes, I have heard of them and what they did on the tracks. They are inspiration to us coming behind, and I would love to have a record to my name just like Falilat.”
Oke first discovered her running prowess when she was in junior secondary school. “And since then, I have not looked back. This is a sport I want to excel in, and I don’t regret coming into it because God is taking me to higher places,” Oke stated.
