Africa hosts first-ever mixed relays at MTN Champs Season 3
For the first time in the history of African athletics, the newly Olympics-approved mixed relay format was featured at a major sporting competition.
This landmark moment took place on April 11—Day 3 of the MTN Champs Season 3 Continental Relays—at the Yabatech Sports Complex in Lagos.
The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Hon. Bukola Olopade, said: “We are witnessing history. This will be documented in the annals of athletics—that the very first mixed 100m relay on African soil happened here in Nigeria, right at the MTN Champs.”
The innovative relay format involves alternating baton exchanges between male and female athletes. It starts with a female runner handing off to another female, followed by a male athlete, and finishes with a second male.
At MTN Champs, both 4x100m and 4x400m mixed relays were contested. Seven teams participated: Team Continental, Team Benin, OAU Spartans (Obafemi Awolowo University), Zabranto Athletics, D’Victors A, and D’Victors B.
In the 4x100m mixed relay, Team Continental clinched first place with an impressive 42.91 seconds. Zabranto Athletics followed in second at 44.69s, while D’Victors A finished third with a time of 44.88s.
One of the standout performances came from Favor “The Nigerian Nightmare” Ashe, who anchored the final leg for Team Continental with a commanding 30-meter lead. Other key contributors to the team’s dominant run included Iyanuoluwa Bada (first leg), Janet Adesiyan (second leg), and Chidera Ezeakor (third leg).
Read Also: Ashe, Nwankwo shine as records tumble at MTN Champs Lagos Relays
With this groundbreaking event, Nigeria and the MTN Champs have set the stage for a new era in athletics, where inclusivity and innovation continue to redefine the sport.
Ashe reflected on the experience, saying: “I’m excited that this was the first time doing this in Nigeria.” On Nigeria’s potential in the upcoming mixed 4 x 100 relays, he added: “We have a team in the world relays happening next month. With what I saw today, with our best guys out there, I think we can expect Team Nigeria to bring home a medal.”
Olopade also spoke on the broader direction of sports in Nigeria. “The president has directed us to create a sports ecosystem that is economy based, that can create wealth for athletes. When we [the new NSC administration] took over, the first thing we did was to create the athlete grant. It requires work to be on the grant.” He encouraged the record holders to register for this grant.
He also announced a new initiative called The Relay Project. “It’s a four-year project which we believe can push Nigeria to the very top of podium standing, either at the Commonwealth Games, All-Africa Games and even the 2028 Olympics.” The Managing Director and CEO of this project is Bambo Akani, who is also the CEO of Making of Champions (MoC), the technical partner for MTN Champs.
MTN Champs is Nigeria’s largest athletics competition, designed to discover and develop local talents and build future Olympians for the country. Ayham Moussa, Chief Operating Officer of MTN Nigeria, emphasized the company’s commitment to sports development. “At MTN, we are heavily invested in football and athletics because we believe in the power of sports as a catalyst for development.”
The Lagos continental relays will conclude on April 12 at the Yabatech Sports Complex, with medals awarded to top-performing athletes. MTN Champs Season 3 will continue in Uyo from April 30 to May 3 at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, where the grand finale will take place.