Ogazi, Onojuvwevwo Lead Nigerian Charge at Ed Murphey Classic
Nigerian track and field stars are set to headline the Ed Murphey Classic this weekend at the University of Memphis, a World Athletics Continental Tour Silver event, with Samuel Ogazi and Ella Onojuvwevwo leading a strong contingent across sprints, jumps, and throws.
In the women’s 100m, Rosemary Chukwuma enters the lineup as one of only four athletes to have broken 11 seconds this season.
Her 10.95 season’s best places her among the elite, alongside Jamaica’s Sabrina Dockery (10.92), American Kaila Jackson (10.93), and the fastest in the field, Jassani Carter (10.88).
Chukwuma’s explosive start will be crucial as she seeks to establish herself as a medal contender ahead of the Commonwealth Games.
Favour Ofili headlines the 200m as the fastest in the field with her 22.15 SB. She will face familiar rivals including McKenzie Long and Jenna Prandini. Ofili’s ability to dominate the curve and maintain her speed down the straight will be closely watched as she builds momentum toward breaking 22 seconds again, four years after she first did (21.96).
In the women’s 400m, Ella Onojuvwevwo arrives fresh from her Diamond League debut at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene.
She is the fastest in the lineup and one of only two athletes to have dipped under 50 seconds this season, alongside American Sanaria Butler (49.86). Their clash promises to be one of the highlights of the meet.
The men’s 400m will be the marquee event, with Samuel Ogazi making his professional debut after clocking a world-leading 43.38 earlier this year.
Ogazi is the overwhelming favorite against a field that includes Quincy Wilson, Antonio Watson, and Olympic champion Kirani James. His performance will be a major statement as he transitions from NCAA dominance to the global stage.
In the men’s shot put, Chukwuebuka Enekwechi will renew his rivalry with New Zealand’s Tom Walsh, just a week after defeating him.
With Ryan Crouser making a guest appearance, the event serves as a dress rehearsal for the Commonwealth Games, where Enekwechi hopes to carry psychological momentum into Glasgow.
The women’s field events also feature Nigerian talent.
Ruth Usoro, with a 6.65m SB, will aim to prove selectors wrong after being left out of Nigeria’s Commonwealth Games team. A jump beyond 6.65m would have made her a medal contender, and Memphis offers her the chance to make a statement.
In the high jump, NCAA indoor and outdoor champion Temitope Adeshina will face Vashti Cunningham, with her consistency at world-class heights making her Nigeria’s best chance for a global medal in vertical jumps.
Meanwhile, Divine Oladipo, Nigeria’s reigning shot put champion, will strive to justify her place among the elite despite being omitted from the Commonwealth Games team. With a season’s best of 17.13m and a personal best of 17.97m, Oladipo must approach the 18m mark to silence critics and prove selectors wrong.
