Enekwechi looking like Nigeria’s only hope for a Diamond League final appearance

Multiple African Shot Put champion and Paris 2024 Olympics finalist, Chukwuebuka Enekwechi will likely be the only Nigerian that will make it to the final of the Diamond League final in Brussels, Belgium next month as Tobi Amusan and Ese Brume look out of reckoning and the race in the 100m hurdles and the long jump events.

Enekwechi is currently occupying the sixth and final qualifying spot for the final and the Nigerian will be in action on Sunday at the Silesia Diamond League meeting to improve his chances of making it to Brussels.

The 31-year-old still has the opportunity of making up for any error in the two qualifying meetings in Rome and Zurich after Sunday’s trip to Silesia in Poland, but he knows there are really no margin for error.

For Amusan, who has dropped from 10th to 14th in the standings following the result in Lausanne on Thursday evening and will also not be in Silesia, nothing short of winning in Rome and Zurich, if he gets a lane, will get her into the final where she will be seeking to make history as the second woman to win the 100m hurdles in Diamond League history.

The 27 year old has garnered just four points for coming fifth in Xiamen, China in April while former Olympic champion, Jasmine Camacho-Quinnleads the standing with 24 points, followed Danielle Williams and Devynee Charlton with 15 and 14 points respectively. Swiss girl, Ditaji Kambundji is also on 14 points.

Cyréna Samba-Mayela and Masai Russell are on eight points while the trio of Grace Stark, Tonea Marshall and Alaysha Johnson are on seven points with Ackera Nugent and Pia Skrzyszowska are on six points.

All these athletes with the exception of Charlton have also been confirmed to run in Silesia which could only make things tougher but not impossible for the Nigerian who holds the world record in the event.

Brume has to be at the Golden Gala in Rome and win to have a chance of making it to the final. The 28-year-old African record holder, with zero point from zero appearance, will also hope
none of the athletes on seven points and below makes it to Rome.

Amusan and Brume were in the final last year. While Amusan successfully defended her 100m hurdles title for her third win in a row, Brume lost the title in her debut to Serbia’s Ivana Vuleta after both jumped 6.85m. The Nigerian lost on countback.