Tag: Diamond League

Nigeria’s hopes at the 2025 Wanda Diamond League Final will be carried by Tobi Amusan, Udodi Onwuzurike, and Nathaniel Ezekiel as the prestigious competition ends tonight at Zurich’s iconic Letzigrund Stadium in Switzerland.

The trio will not only compete for pride and national glory but also for the richest payday in Diamond League history — a $50,000 prize for each event winner.

Zurich has long been a memorable stage for Nigerian athletics, with Amusan delivering some of her finest moments there. But this year marks a first: three Nigerians qualifying for the Final in the same season.

At 22, Udodi Onwuzurike is the youngest of the team. Despite injuries disrupting his season, he squeezed into the 200m final after placing third in Brussels (20.29s) and benefitting from late withdrawals. He now faces the ultimate test against Olympic champions Noah Lyles and Letsile Tebogo, as well as Dominican star Alexander Ogando.

Amusan remains Nigeria’s biggest name. The world record holder in the 100m hurdles already owns three Diamond League titles, including a record-setting 12.29s win in Zurich in 2022. After the heartbreak of missing the Paris Olympic final, she has found her rhythm again, highlighted by a 12.24s performance in Paris this year.

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In Zurich, she will meet a stacked lineup featuring Grace Stark, Danielle Williams, Kendra Harrison, Ditaji Kambundji, and Ackera Nugent. A win would make Amusan the first athlete in history to claim four Diamond League titles in the 100m hurdles.

Nathaniel Ezekiel has been one of the breakthrough stars of Nigerian athletics this season. Also 22, the Baylor University product lowered the national 400m hurdles record five times in 2025, clocking 47.31s in Silesia — a mark ranked among the year’s global top five. Initially outside the qualification zone, he earned his ticket to Zurich after the withdrawals of Rai Benjamin and Alison dos Santos. Now, he lines up against world leader Karsten Warholm (46.28s) in what promises to be the toughest race of his career. No Nigerian has ever reached the podium in this event in Zurich.

While the $50,000 prize is on the line, Zurich is also about momentum ahead of next year’s World Championships in Tokyo.

All three Nigerians will compete today. Amusan runs first at 7:09 p.m. Nigerian time, followed by Ezekiel at 8:44 p.m., before Onwuzurike closes out the night in the 200m final at 9:39 p.m.

With the next leg of the Diamond League set for August 20 in Lausanne, Nigeria’s top track and field athletes are heading into the meet with renewed confidence, thanks to standout performances at the recent Silesia Diamond League in Poland.

Leading the charge is Nathaniel Ezekiel, who shattered his own national record in the men’s 400m hurdles, while Tobi Amusan continued her steady return to elite form with a strong third-place finish in the women’s 100m hurdles.

Their showings in Silesia have set the stage for a thrilling showdown in Lausanne as both athletes chase Diamond League points and gear up for the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo next month.

At just 22, Nathaniel Ezekiel has emerged as Nigeria’s brightest young talent in the 400m hurdles and in Silesia, he delivered yet another statement performance, lowering the national record for the fifth time this season with an incredible 47.31s to place second behind Olympic champion Karsten Warholm.

Ezekiel’s time is now the fifth-fastest in the world this year, and his momentum couldn’t be stronger heading into Lausanne.

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After dominating the NCAA circuit, winning the collegiate title in 47.49s, and making history as a Bowerman Award finalist, the former Baylor standout is aiming for another podium finish as he looks to improve on his current ninth-place Diamond League ranking in the 400m hurdles.

Tobi Amusan, Nigeria’s world record holder in the 100m hurdles, placed third in Silesia with a fast 12.25s, just behind America’s Masai Russell (12.19s) and Tonea Marshall (12.24s).

It was another encouraging step forward in Amusan’s 2025 campaign. From a season-opening 12.74s in Xiamen to a season’s best of 12.24s in Paris, she has continued to sharpen her form with each race.

Heading into Lausanne, Amusan sits second in the Diamond League standings with 23 points and will face another elite field including Russell, Kendra Harrison, and Jamaicans Ackera Nugent and Megan Tapper.

The three-time Diamond League champion is chasing her fourth title and looks poised to deliver a strong performance in Lausanne as she eyes peak form in time for Tokyo.

Chukwuebuka Enekwechi remains Nigeria’s top contender in the men’s shot put, finishing seventh in Silesia with a solid 21.56m in a stacked field. He currently ranks seventh in the Diamond League standings with 11 points and is also confirmed for Lausanne.

Meanwhile, Favour Ofili placed third in the women’s 200m in Poland, clocking 22.25s behind Shericka Jackson and Brittany Brown. While her participation for Nigeria in Tokyo remains uncertain due to a pending nationality switch, her performances continue to draw attention as one of the most consistent sprinters on the circuit.

As the Diamond League Final in Zurich (August 27–28) draws closer, Nigerian athletes are looking to solidify their places among the top contenders. Ezekiel, Amusan, and Enekwechi all remain in contention for qualification and will use Lausanne as a critical tune-up before the World Championships in Tokyo.

All eyes will be on Lausanne as Nigeria’s stars return to the track, eager to build on their success in Silesia and prove once again that they belong among the best in the world.