Ezekiel is highest-ranked Nigerian ahead of Tokyo World Championships
Ezekiel Nathaniel is the highest-ranked Nigerian athlete heading to the World Athletics Championships, which start next weekend in Tokyo, Japan, following the latest update on World Athletics rankings.
The reigning NCAA 400m hurdles champion and Nigerian record holder moved from sixth last week to fifth after finishing third (47.56) in the Diamond League final in Zurich.
He also moved from 91st to 59th in the men’s overall rankings.
Ezekiel is followed in the rankings by another male athlete, shot putter Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, who is ranked eighth in his event and 118th in the overall men’s ranking.
The 32-year-old dropped one spot from seventh last week in the shot put to eighth, and from 108th to 118th overall.
Enekwechi’s inability to make it to back-to-back Diamond League finals ensured the drop.
Sprinter Udodi Onwuzurike moved from 45th last week to 30th, on account of his involvement in the Diamond League final.
Kanyinsola Ajayi is ranked 29th and Israel Okon 40th in the 100m, while Samuel Ogazi is 15th in the 400m.
Long jumper Charles Goodfred, who is making his World Championships debut, is ranked 42nd.
For the women, sprint hurdler Tobi Amusan and long jumper Ese Brume are the only Nigerian women among those going to the World Championships who are ranked within the top 10 of their events.
The 28-year-old Amusan, who missed the Diamond League final due to slight discomfort (and did not want to risk it), is ranked ninth in the 100m hurdles, same position as last week, and 68th in the overall women’s ranking, six spots up from 74th last week.
Brume, a multiple global medalist, is ranked a step higher than Amusan, albeit in a different event.
The silver and bronze medalist at the World Championships is ranked eighth in the women’s long jump but is outside the top 200 (300th) in the overall women’s ranking.
Prestina Ochonogor is ranked 35th in the long jump. Reigning Commonwealth Games discus throw champion Chioma Onyekwere is ranked 27th in her event, with Obiageri Amaechi four places lower at 31st.
Hammer thrower Sade Olatoye is ranked 33rd in her event.
