Ese Brume Returns to Long Jump with Wind-Assisted 6.61m, Ofili Wins 200m
African long jump record holder Ese Brume made her return to competition in her specialty in 2026 at the USTAF Grand Prix in Los Angeles on Sunday, nine months after narrowly missing out on the final at the Tokyo 2025 World Athletics Championships.
The 30-year-old finished sixth out of seven competitors, producing a wind-legal 6.41m in the first round before soaring to a wind-assisted 6.61m in the following attempt. She was unable to improve further as the event unfolded.
The competition was dominated by Tara Davis-Woodhall, who leapt a world-leading 7.25m to secure victory. Davis-Woodhall’s performance capped a remarkable day in which she also placed second in the 100m hurdles with a personal best of 12.47 seconds.
In the men’s shot put, African record holder Chukwuebuka Enekwechi finished fifth, his best effort a 21.33m throw in the fourth round, the only mark beyond 21m in his series.
Jamaican Rajindra Campbell claimed victory with 21.94m, ahead of Americans Jordan Geist and Joe Kovacs, who both registered 21.76m.
Nigeria’s sprint stars also impressed. Favour Ofili ran a season’s best of 11.15 seconds to finish fourth in the women’s 100m, before storming to victory in the 200m with a wind-assisted 22.45.
She edged out Gemima Joseph (22.88) and compatriot Rosemary Chukwuma (22.94). Meanwhile, Ella Onojuvwevwo clocked 50.25 to secure second place in the women’s 400m.
Brume’s return marks an important step as she looks to rebuild momentum in her specialty event ahead of the Commonwealth Games where she will be gunning for her third title in the event.
