AFN sets June 20-22 for Commonwealth Games trials, releases qualifying standards

The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has scheduled national trials from June 20 to 22 to select athletes for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland. The federation also released the qualification standards for athletes aiming to compete in the prestigious event.

Home-based and international athletes are expected to gather at the Yaba College of Technology Sports Complex in Lagos. The three-day event 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 races is restricted to athletes who have achieved the prescribed qualifying standards between April and June 2026.

For athletes based in Nigeria, the qualifying standards are 10.60s for the men's 100m and 11.55s for the women's 100m. The 200m standards are 21.85s for men and 23.75s for women, while the 400m standards are 48.50s for men and 54.50s for women. Athletes based abroad face stricter benchmarks: 10.05s for the men's 100m, 11.17s for the women's 100m, 20.48s for the men's 200m, and 22.60s for the women's 200m. The qualifying marks for the 400m are 45.50s for men and 51.30s for women.

The AFN stated that this arrangement will ensure that only top-performing athletes compete in the sprint events, while maintaining broad participation in other disciplines. Accommodation will be provided for athletes who meet the required standards during the qualification period. The list of qualified athletes is expected soon. AFN President Tonobok Okowa acknowledged the National Sports Commission's support in strengthening athletics development and elite athlete performance.

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The federation believes the arrangement will ensure that only athletes in top form contest the sprint events while maintaining broad participation across other disciplines.