Onwuzurike, Ajayi, Ofili to make individual outdoor debut as Nigerians invade Tom Jones Memorial in Florida!

Former World U20 champion, Udodi Onwuzurike, Nigeria’s 60m indoor record holder, Kanyinsola Ajayi, African U20 60m record holder, Israel Okon Sunday have been listed to make their outdoor debut this Saturday at the Tom Jones Memorial at the Percy Beard Track in Gainesville, Florida.

Onwuzurike who raced thrice indoors in the 60m event this year will run in the third heat of the Men’s 100m Olympic Development race alongside reigning African champion in the event, Liberia’s Joseph Fahnbulleh.

The Auburn University duo of Ajayi and Okon who were very impressive indoors will have the first opportunity to transfer their indoor performance to the outdoor stage and will run in the Men’s 100m Invite.

Ajayi who ran 6.48 to equal the 60m Nigeria record Deji Aliu set in 1999 will run from lane six in the first heat while Okon, who set a 6.51 African U20 60m record last month, will run from lane lane in the second heat, inside another Nigerian, Adekalu Fakorede who will be running from lane six.

Fakorede who set a 6.56 lifetime best in his first season running indoors will be running in the 100m for the first time this outdoor season after running in the 200m early this month for his school, Mississippi State University.

Tima Godbless will be running from lane four in the Women’s 100m event while five other Nigerians, Moforehan Abinusawa, Elo Blessing Okpah, Faith Okwose, Victoria Aransiola
and Blessing Ogundiran will also be running in the blue ribband event.

Godbless will be hoping to start showing her incredible 7.08 run indoors over the 60m event was not by happenstance as all eyes on her to break 11 seconds in the 100m. She ran a wind-aided 11.20 in her first race outdoor over the distance.

Precious Nzeakor has been listed to compete in the Women’s 100m Collegiate event.

The reigning National Sports Festival double sprint champion will also be competing in the Women’s 200m invite where Ella Onojuvwevwo has also been registered to compete.

Also running in the event is Aransiola who last month ran a new personal best (23.51) in the event.

In the Women’s 200m Olympic Development race, Favour Ofili (lane 7)has been drawn in between Paris 100m Olympic champion Julien Alfred and Nigerian Irish, Rhasidat Adeleke in the first of five heats.

Ofili has not competed this year after she was scratched out of the opening leg of Michael Johnson’s money-spinning Grand Slam Track.

In the Women’s 200m Collegiate, the Nigerian duo of Okwose (heat 3) and Eseroghene Awusa (heat 4) will be competing. Awusa will also be competing in the 100m hurdles.

Former Nigeria hammer throw champion and African record holder, Annette Echikunwoke will be competing in the Women’s Hammer Throw Invite.

Ramot Jimoh, who ran 2:04.60 to open her outdoor campaign last week, will be aiming to run faster in Florida where she has been listed to compete in the Women’s 800m Invite.

Onojuvwevwo, Chioma Nwachukwu, and Esther Joseph have registered for the Women’s 400m Invite.