Nigerian Athletes Prepare for Commonwealth Games Trials

The Athletics Federation of Nigeria has set June 20 to 22 for national trials ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland. They have also released the qualification standards for athletes, according to PUNCH Sports Extra.

Athletes from Nigeria and abroad will gather at the Yaba College of Technology Sports Complex in Lagos. This event will showcase some of Nigeria’s best athletes ahead of the Commonwealth Games, which will take place from July 23 to August 2, 2026.

The trials will last for three days and will include 32 track and field events for both men and women. However, participation in the men’s and women’s 100m, 200m, and 400m will be limited to athletes who meet the qualifying standards set between April and June 2026. Other track and field events will be open to all participants.

For Nigerian-based athletes, the qualifying standard for the men’s 100m is 10.60 seconds, while the women’s 100m standard is 11.55 seconds. The standard for men’s 200m is 21.85 seconds, and for women’s 200m, it is 23.75 seconds. For the men’s and women’s 400m, the qualifying marks are 48.50 seconds and 54.50 seconds respectively.

For athletes based outside Nigeria, the qualifying standard for men’s 100m is 10.05 seconds, while for women it is 11.17 seconds. The men’s 200m standard is 20.48 seconds, and for women, it is 22.60 seconds. The qualifying marks for men’s and women’s 400m are 45.50 seconds and 51.30 seconds respectively.

“The federation believes the arrangement will ensure that only athletes in top form contest the sprint events while allowing broad participation across other disciplines,” the AFN said in a statement.

“To further help athletes aiming for qualification, the federation announced that accommodation will be provided for athletes who meet the required standards during the qualification period. The list of athletes who meet these benchmarks is expected to be released soon.”

AFN President, Tonobok Okowa, also praised the National Sports Commission for its support of the federation and Nigerian athletes. He noted that this backing has significantly helped improve athletics development and boost elite athlete performance.