Ojeli takes center stage in Firenze’s sprint showdown

All eyes will be on Ifeanyi Emmanuel Ojeli this Wednesday at the International Pegaso Meeting Città di Firenze, World Athletics Continental Tour – Challenger, as the Nigerian sprinter steps into the blocks for his fifth 100m outing of the season — and perhaps his most pivotal yet.

Fresh off a solid 45.86 in the 400m at Brescia just 11 days ago, Ojeli now returns to the blue riband event where he made headlines in April — clocking a personal best of 10.24s at Yabatech, Lagos. That performance marked his first sub-10.30 run and placed him firmly on the radar of selectors for the 20th World Athletics Championships in Tokyo this September.

With qualification standards tightening and competition heating up, Firenze offers Ojeli a golden opportunity to lower his PB and stake a stronger claim for Tokyo.

Ojeli will face a stacked lineup of international talent that includes the South African duo of Tsebo Matsoso and Wayde van Niekerk, Arnaldo Romero Crespo of Cuba, Samuele Ceccarelli of Italy and Cote d’Ivoire’s Arthur Cissé.

With such pedigree on the track, Ojeli will need to summon his best form — and perhaps a touch of Lagos grit — to make a statement.