Diamond League: Amusan Heads Nigeria’s Final Push

Diamond League: Amusan Heads Nigeria’s Final Push

Sampson Adedeji

World record holder Tobi Amusan will spearhead Nigeria’s charge at the 12th leg of the Diamond League in Silesia, Poland, this Saturday, as four national stars battle to secure qualification for the season-ending finals in Zurich, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

Fresh off her fifth consecutive national title in Lagos, Amusan returns to the circuit chasing her fourth Diamond Trophy.

She will line up in the women’s 100m hurdles for the sixth time this season, having already tasted victory in Rabat in May, clocked a season’s best of 12.24s in Paris, and taken second place in Oregon in July with 12.38s.

Currently ranked 10th in the world, Amusan holds second place in the Diamond League standings for her event with 17 points behind American Grace Stark (35) and just ahead of the Netherlands’ Nadine Visser.

Joining her in Poland is Favour Ofili, making her season debut in the women’s 200m on the Diamond League stage.

The Turkish-bound sprinter is 17th in the 100m standings with four points, following a fifth-place finish at her first appearance this season in Oregon’s Prefontaine Classic.

Ezekiel Nathaniel also returns for his second-ever Diamond League outing after a standout collegiate season in the US, which earned him a Bowerman Award finalist nomination.

The 22-year-old 400m hurdler placed third in Oregon with 47.88s, collecting six points to sit 15th in the rankings. In the men’s shot put, Chukwuebuka Enekwechi is eyeing a strong result to strengthen his bid for a finals berth.

The African record holder is sixth in the standings with nine points, boosted by a historic throw of 22.10m in Oregon a new Nigerian and continental record.

He faces a loaded field including Italy’s Leonardo Fabbri (world No. 2) and US star Joe Kovacs (world No. 3). With just three meetings left before the Zurich finals on 27–28 August, only 64 athletes have booked their spots so far, leaving the competition wide open. 

The winners will claim the coveted Diamond Trophy and a share of the $2.24 million prize pool reserved for the most consistent performers across the 14-meeting series.