Nigeria has leapfrogged to the top of the medal standings at the athletics championship at the ongoing ECOWAS Games.

Nigeria has won eight gold medals in the competition compared to the five host nation, Ghana, has won after Day three of the games at the El Wak Sports stadium.

The West African Giants won four medals on Monday, June 18, 2012, with two of the medals coming in the boys and girls 4x100m relay events, thereby beating Ghana to second position on both occasions.

Elsewhere, Chime Nkechi threw 13.47m to clinch gold in the girls shot putt while compatriot Priscila Zever took silver in the same event.

The Nigerian pair of Uwakwe Nkaruka and Rita Ossai won gold and silver in the girls 400m in a time of 52.95 and 53.39 respectively, while Ghana’s Ghana Adelaide Nkrumah secured the bronze medal with a time of 55.42.

There was more heartache for team Ghana when gold medal hopeful Mato Ataa Afia failed to win the girls 5000m event and in the process lost out to Togo’s Atchade Abla who took gold with Nigeria’s Aminata Olowora winning silver.

The competition continues on Tuesday, 19th June, 2012.