Amaechi Marton

Team Nigeria kicked off her quest to salvage Olympic pride with mixed results in athletics, which got underway Friday morning.

After seven days of London 2012 action, Nigeria has been floundering with all hope now hinged on athletics to help Team Nigeria at least save some face.

However, as the athletics events of the Games began, Nigeria's Amaechi Marton managed to squeeze into Saturday's 400m semi-finals, while Omolara Omotosho failed to progress.

But Marton's time of 49.34 does not bode well for his chances of even making it to the final of the 400m hurdles.

In fact the time was only good enough to place him in 16th position of the qualifiers.

Javier Culson of Puerto Rico, unbeaten over the distance this year, ran the fastest time of 48.33.

In the women's race, Omotosho was still in qualification place in third position only to lose steam in the last few metres to allow Jenna Martin of Canada to pip her to the third spot almost on the line.

Omotosho's time was 52.11 while Martin's was 58.98, to show how tight the finish was.

In the heptathlon, Nigeria's Uhunoma Osazuwa is currently placed 14th after two disciplines with 1056 points.

Home girl and world's leading woman in the event, Jessica Ennis of Team GB is currently leading with 1195