Amusan leads Nigerian track and field stars to adidas Atlanta City Games

World 100m hurdles record holder at 12.12, Tobi Amusan headlines a rich cast of Nigerian track and field stars who will be competing at the Piedmont Park in Atlanta, USA on Saturday at the adidas Atlanta City Games.

Amusan will get the chance to prove she is still one of the very top stars of an event that has seen two athletes run inside 12.20 (12.17 and 12.19) this season for the very first time in history.

The Nigerian, who holds a 12.66 personal season’s best, has been drawn in the second of two heats and will battle 2024 fastest girl over the high hurdles, Ackera Nugent of Jamaica (12.24) and former World record holder at 12.20, Keni Harisson of the USA.

Amusan will also battle for a place in the final against Jamaican, Megan Tapper who beat her to Tokyo 2020 Olympic bronze in the event.

If she scales through, she will get the chance to race against Tia Jones, the American who has broken 12.20 this year (12.19) as well as Paris 2024 Olympic finalist, Grace Stark who defeated the Nigerian in Xiamen and Kepaio, the first two Diamond League meetings of the year to extend her head-to-head record against Amusan to 4-0.

Also lined up for action is Paris 2024 Olympics 200m finalist, Favour Ofili who will be running in the 150m for the second straight year in Atlanta.

Last year, she shattered the African record in the event to move joint second in the all-time list.

Ofili has set continental records over 150m – 16.30s, 200m indoors – 22.11s and 300m indoors – 35.99s and will be looking to run even faster this Saturday.

In the women’s long jump, Ese Brume will be in action as she continues with her preparations for the World Championships after recovering from a car accident.

The 29 year old who has jumped 6.14m this season and ranks as low as 13th in the African top list will be looking to move to the top and supplant the duo of Esraa Owis of Egypt and Prestina Ochonogor who have hit 6.67m this season.

For the men, former World U20 200m champion, Udodi Onwuzurike will compete in the 100m event.

Onwuzurike, who is struggling to recreate his 2023 form which saw him run 9.92 in the 100m and 19.76 in the 200m, has been drawn in the first of two heats.

The 22 year old has been drawn to run just inside South African World leader in the 100m, Akani Simbine.