Ezekiel Set for Showdown with Kebinashipi, Onojuvwevwo to Make Diamond League Debut in Eugene

Nigeria’s 400m hurdles record holder Nathaniel Ezekiel has been provisionally confirmed to race in the 400m flat at the prestigious Pre Classic Diamond League meeting scheduled for July 3-4, 2026, in Eugene, Oregon.

Ezekiel, who set a national record of 47.11 seconds, will face reigning World 400m champion Busang Collen Kebinashipi, Olympic 400m hurdles champion Rai Benjamin, and a host of other world-class quartermilers in what promises to be one of the highlights of the two-day event.

Ezekiel will not be the only Nigerian athlete on show.

Rising star Ella Onojuvwevwo, the 2026 world indoor leader and second fastest outdoors over 400m this year with a personal best of 49.47, is set to make her Diamond League debut.

She will line up against a stellar cast that includes two Nigeria-born athletes, Rashidat Adeleke of Ireland and Salwa Eid Naser of Bahrain, both expected to make their 2026 Diamond League debuts.

Also provisionally confirmed is reigning Olympic champion Marileidy Paulino, ensuring a world-class women’s field.

Another Nigerian star returning to Eugene is Tobi Amusan, who famously set the 100m hurdles world record of 12.12 seconds at Hayward Field in 2022, becoming the first Nigerian to win a World outdoor gold medal.

Amusan also won her NCAA outdoor 100m hurdles title in Eugene back in 2017, making the venue a special place in her career.

Conspicuously absent from the provisional list is African shot put record holder Chukwuebuka Enekwechi.

The 33-year-old has been a regular at the Pre Classic since 2024, achieving the two biggest throws of his career at the event. He threw a lifetime best of 21.91m in 2024 and improved to 22.10m in 2025, joining the exclusive 22m club and setting a new African record.