Nigeria will send a blend of proven performers and rising athletes to the first World Athletics Ultimate Championship, scheduled for Budapest, Hungary, from 11 to 13 September.
Maxwell Kumoye, chairman of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria’s Media Committee, released the selection and confirmed that world-record holder Tobi Amusan will headline the women’s team. Amusan is set to contest the 100m hurdles and join the mixed 4x100m relay squad.
Kanyinsola Ajayi will compete for Nigeria in the men’s 100m, while Udodi Onwuzurike has been selected for the men’s 200m as well as the mixed 4x100m relay. Ella Onojuwvevwo will line up in the women’s 400m, and Ezekiel Nathaniel will race in the men’s 400m hurdles.
Nigeria’s mixed 4x100m relay selection features Alaba Akintola, Favour Ashe, Miracle Ezechukwu, Udodi Onwuzurike, Rosemary Nwankwo and Tobi Amusan.
The AFN noted that Ajayi, Ashe, Amusan, Nathaniel and Onwuzurike have already built strong reputations at major international meets and are expected to be among the athletes attracting significant interest in Budapest.
Organised by World Athletics, the competition is a new end-of-season invitational held in even-numbered years during the gap between World Athletics Championships. It offers a total prize fund of US$10 million, with every gold-medal winner receiving US$150,000.
