Nigerian-Americans Echikunwoke and Orji make USA’s list of 120 athletes selected for Paris Olympics
The Nigerian-American duo of hammer thrower, Annette Echikunwoke and triple jumper, Keturah Orji are among the 120 athletes the United States of America has selected for the athletics event of the Paris Olympic Games.
While Echikunwoke will be making her first appearance at the Games, Orji will be hoping to turn one fourth place and another seventh place finish to a podium appearance in her third trip to the Games.
Echikunwoke was due to represent Nigeria at the 2020 Summer Olympics (Tokyo 2021) after winning the hammer throw event at the Nigeria Olympic trials at Yabatech in Lagos, but was disqualified due to the negligence of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria.
She thereafter changed allegiance in June 2022 and is set to represent the United States at the 2024 Summer Olympics. She holds the African area record in hammer throw.
In fact, she threw four successive Nigerian and African records in hammer, setting the mark at 75.49m at the USATF Throws Festival in Tucson, Arizona, on 22 May 2021.
She is the first Nigerian nay African woman to hit the 70m mark in the event.
Nigeria’s loss will now be USA’s gain as the 27 year old will now be in Paris representing her country of birth after she won the hammer throw event at the USA trials.
Orji has however only represented the USA.
USA team for Paris
WOMEN
100m: Melissa Jefferson, Sha’Carri Richardson, Twanisha Terry
200m: Brittany Brown, McKenzie Long, Gabby Thomas
400m: Aaliyah Butler, Kendall Ellis, Alexis Holmes
800m: Nia Akins, Juliette Whittaker, Allie Wilson
1500m: Nikki Hiltz, Emily Mackay, Elle St. Pierre
5000m: Elise Cranny, Whittni Morgan, Karissa Schweizer
10,000m: Weini Kelati, Karissa Schweizer, Parker Valby
Marathon: Dakotah Lindwurm, Fiona O’Keeffe, Emily Sisson
3000m steeplechase: Valerie Constien, Marisa Howard, Courtney Wayment
100m hurdles: Alaysha Johnson, Masai Russell, Grace Stark
400m hurdles: Anna Cockrell, Jasmine Jones , Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone
High jump: Vashti Cunningham, Rachel Glenn
Pole vault: Brynn King, Katie Moon, Bridget Williams
Long jump: Tara Davis-Woodhall, Jasmine Moore, Monae’ Nichols
Triple jump: Tori Franklin, Jasmine Moore, Keturah Orji
Shot put: Chase Jackson, Jaida Ross, Raven Saunders
Discus: Valarie Allman, Veronica Fraley, Jayden Ulrich
Hammer: Annette Echikunwoke, DeAnna Price, Erin Reese
Javelin: Maggie Malone Hardin
Heptathlon: Taliyah Brooks, Anna Hall, Chari Hawkins
Relay pool (additional athletes): Kaylyn Brown, Tamari Davis, Quanera Hayes, Aleia Hobbs, Shamier Little, Isabella Whittaker
MEN
100m: Kenny Bednarek, Fred Kerley, Noah Lyles
200m: Kenny Bednarek, Erriyon Knighton, Noah Lyles
400m: Chris Bailey, Quincy Hall, Michael Norman
800m: Bryce Hoppel, Hobbs Kessler, Brandon Miller
1500m: Cole Hocker, Hobbs Kessler, Yared Nuguse
5000m: Graham Blanks, Grant Fisher, Abdihamid Nur
10,000m: Grant Fisher, Woody Kincaid, Nico Young
Marathon: Leonard Korir, Conner Mantz, Clayton Young
3000m steeplechase: James Corrigan, Kenneth Rooks, Matthew Wilkinson
110m hurdles: Freddie Crittenden, Grant Holloway, Daniel Roberts
400m hurdles: CJ Allen, Trevor Bassitt, Rai Benjamin
High jump: JuVaughn Harrison, Shelby McEwen, Vernon Turner
Pole vault: Sam Kendricks, Chris Nilsen, Jacob Wooten
Long jump: Malcolm Clemons, Jeremiah Davis, Jarrion Lawson
Triple jump: Salif Mane, Russell Robinson, Donald Scott
Shot put: Ryan Crouser, Joe Kovacs, Payton Otterdahl
Discus: Joseph Brown, Andrew Evans, Sam Mattis
Hammer: Daniel Haugh, Rudy Winkler
Javelin: Curtis Thompson
Decathlon: Heath Baldwin, Harrison Williams, Zach Ziemek
Relay pool (additional athletes): Christian Coleman, Bryce Deadmon, Kyree King, Courtney Lindsey, Vernon Norwood, Quincy Wilson
