Rosemary Nwankwo targets better finish after U20 100m setback

Rosemary Nwankwo is focusing on improving her race completion following her exit from the women's 100m at the World Athletics U20 Championships. The Nigerian teenager finished fifth in her semi-final with a time of 11.54 seconds, which prevented her from reaching the final.

Despite the result, Nwankwo identified her initial acceleration as a positive aspect of her performance. She noted that while her start was powerful, her ability to maintain speed during the closing stages of the race was insufficient. She stated that she must work on her finishing to reach a higher level of competition.

The 16-year-old sprinter holds a personal best of 11.34 seconds, a time she achieved in Dakar in July 2026. Her recent trajectory includes winning a silver medal in the 100m at the 2025 African U18/U20 Championships.

Her development has earned her recognition within the national setup. She was selected as part of the Nigerian athletics team for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Nwankwo intends to use the lessons from her semi-final performance to address the weaknesses in her sprinting mechanics.