Nigeria and African long jump record holder, Ese Brume, sprinter Favour Ofili, 400m barrier runner Nathaniel Ezekiel, and Javelin thrower Nnamdi Prosper will lead five other reigning record holders to Benin City for Commonwealth Games and World Athletics Championship trials, which begins next week.
So far this year, Ofili has been in impressive form, setting new national marks in the 200m indoors (22.46s) and outdoor (22.46s) (21.96s).
The 19-year-old silver medallist in the 200m at the 2022 NCAA indoor and outdoor championships is also the fastest Nigerian woman this year and will be one of the stars to watch when the competition begins.
Nathaniel, a Baylor University freshman who improved from 51 seconds in the 400m hurdles at this time last year to 49.89 seconds two months later at the World U20 Athletics Championships in Nairobi, will also be the focus of attention.
This year, the 18-year-old has achieved world-class status after breaking Henry Amike’s 35-year-old (48.50s) Nigeria record and setting an African U20 record.
Nnamdi will also be competing in the Javelin event, where he holds the national record. The 19-year-old improved on Pius Bazighe’s national record of 81.08m by 14cm (81.22m) and will be seeking to defend his national title as well as confirm his spot on the plane to Oregon for the World Athletics Championships.
Reigning Nigeria and African record holder (12.42s) in the 100m hurdles, Tobiloba Amusan is expected to arrive Nigeria this weekend same as shot putter, Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, the reigning African Games and African championships champion.
Triple jumper and silver medalist at the 2022 NCAA Championships, Ruth Usoro will arrive in Benin City as the reigning Nigeria record holder in the event (14.50m).
African Games and African championships champion Chioma Onyekwere will be defending her national discus title as the Nigerian record holder (63.30m).
The 2022 Nigerian athletics championships will serve as selection trials for next month’s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, United Kingdom and the World Athletics Championships in Oregon, USA.
