Enekwechi eyes redemption in Eugene as Shot Put titans clash at Prefontaine Classic

Nigerian shot put ace Chukwuebuka Enekwechi returns to the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon, on July 5 with unfinished business and a point to prove.

After a career-best third-place finish at last year’s edition—his highest ever in a Diamond League meet—Enekwechi is back at Hayward Field, hoping to reignite his 2025 campaign and inch closer to the elusive 22-meter barrier, a mark no Nigerian has ever reached.

The season has started on a rocky note for the national record holder, with a seventh-place finish in Rabat and eighth in Rome, leaving him eighth in the Diamond League standings with just three points.

But Eugene offers a familiar stage and a golden opportunity to climb the rankings and move closer to securing one of the six coveted spots for the Diamond League Final in Zurich this September.

Enekwechi, who finished fifth in last year’s Diamond League Final, remains one of Africa’s top medal hopes in the throws.

A strong showing in Eugene could not only boost his qualification chances but also reaffirm his status as a global contender—and perhaps, finally, bring that 22m dream within reach.