Grand Slam Track: Ofili out, Onwuzurike in
It is a case of one Nigerian out and another in as the full field of 96 Racers and Challengers who will compete in the Philadelphia Slam – the third event in the league’s inaugural season was officially unveiled by track legend and four-time Olympic champion, Michael Johnson, the league’s founder and Commissioner on Friday.
The Slam will take place at historic Franklin Field on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania, May 31–June 1.
Favour Ofili who competed when the Slam made its first stop in the USA (at the Ansin Sports Complex in Miami) after the opening leg in Kingston, Jamaica, will not be in Philadelphia.
Instead, it will be another Nigerian sprinter, former World U20 champion, Udodi Onwuzurike that will debut in the money-spinning competition regarded by many as the new global home of professional track competition where the star prize is a $100,000.
Onwuzurike will compete in the men’s short sprint (100/200m) category where he will challenge former World 100m champion, Christian Coleman who is also making his Slam debut, Kenny Bednarek, the two-time Olympic one-time World 200m silver medalist, Britain’s Zharnel Hughes, Andre De Grasse of Canada, Christian Miller , Bryan Levell and Aaron Brown.
Onwuzurike will be looking to surpass Ofili’s fourth place finish in Miami with 11 points and was rewarded with her biggest prize purse ever ($25,00).
Winner of each category will go home with $100,000 while second and third place finishers will earn $50,000 and $30,000 respectively.
