Ofili, Ezekiel Primed for Diamond League Debuts at Prefontaine Classic, Chukwuma, Amusan Set for Invitational Showdowns
Sprinter Favour Ofili and 400m hurdles sensation Nathaniel Ezekiel are set to make their Diamond League debuts this weekend as the prestigious World Athletics one-day meeting series hits its ninth stop in Eugene, Oregon.
Ofili, fresh from a scorching 10.87 personal best in Texas, will become the third Nigerian woman sprinter to compete in the Diamond League after Blessing Okagbare and Gloria Asumnu.
The 22-year-old is lined up for her biggest test yet in a star-studded 100m race at the iconic Hayward Field. She will face off against reigning Olympic champion Julien Alfred—her former collegiate rival who beat her in the 2022 NCAA final on this very track. Alfred has already clocked a blistering 10.75 this season.
The Nigerian national champion will also line up against Jamaican twins Tia and Tina Clayton, British sprint star Dina Asher-Smith, American Grand Slam winner Melissa Jefferson-Wooden (with whom she shares a 1-1 head-to-head), fellow African sprint queen Marie-Josée Ta Lou-Smith, reigning world champion Sha’Carri Richardson, and American standout Twanisha Terry.
The loaded field is shaping up to be a preview of the expected 100m final at the 20th World Athletics Championships in Tokyo later this year.
Meanwhile, Rosemary Chukwuma, whom Ofili displaced as Nigeria’s second fastest ever, will feature in the women’s 100m invitational event (non-Diamond League). The 24-year-old, with a season’s best of 11.03, will be aiming to dip below 11 seconds for the third time in four years.
Tobi Amusan is also slated for action in the 100m hurdles (non-Diamond League), facing Olympic champion Masai Russell (12.17), Tia Jones (12.19), 2024 world leader Ackera Nuggent, former world record holder Kendra Harrison, and two-time world champion Danielle Williams.
On the men’s side, 21-year-old Nathaniel Ezekiel becomes the first Nigerian 400m hurdler to compete in the Diamond League, following his outstanding 47.49 NCAA title run at Hayward Field earlier this month. His debut will pit him against three men from the exclusive sub-47-second club: Rai Benjamin (46.17), Alison dos Santos (46.29), and Abderrahman Samba (46.98).
Rounding out Nigeria’s lineup in Eugene, shot putter Chukwuebuka Enekwechi will look to rediscover his podium form after a slow start to the season. A third-place finisher in Eugene last year, he’ll aim to launch himself back into the medal conversation.
