Amusan, Ajayi, Ogazi lead stars to Commonwealth Games Trials in Lagos

By Joe Apu

Nigeria’s quest to assemble a formidable team for the forthcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, begins this weekend as the country’s top athletes converge on the Yaba College of Technology Sports Complex for the Commonwealth Games Trials.

The three-day competition, scheduled for June 20 to 22, will serve as the mandatory selection event for athletes seeking places on Team Nigeria for the Games later this summer.

A total of 32 events will be contested, with attention expected to focus on 14 marquee events featuring some of Nigeria’s biggest athletics stars, NCAA champions, African record holders and emerging talents.

The trials are set to produce one of the most competitive national championships in recent years, with home-based athletes battling an impressive contingent of Nigerian athletes based in the United States collegiate system for coveted national team spots.

Leading the list of headline acts is world champion and African record holder Tobi Amusan, who enters the women’s 100m hurdles as the overwhelming favourite following a strong return to form this season.

Amusan successfully defended her African title before launching an impressive Diamond League campaign, recording podium finishes in Shanghai and Xiamen before winning in Rabat with a season’s best-equalling time of 12.28 seconds. She also claimed gold at the New Taipei Athletics Open in Taiwan in a meeting record of 12.72 seconds.

Adaobi Tabogo is expected to provide a stern challenge in the event as she seeks to upset the reigning African champion.

The men’s 100m race promises to be among the most anticipated events of the championships, with national record holder Kanyinsola Ajayi attracting significant attention.

The Auburn University sprinter recently rewrote the Nigerian record books when he clocked 9.84 seconds at the NCAA East Regional Championships, surpassing the long-standing national mark of 9.85 seconds set by Olusoji Fasuba. He further demonstrated his exceptional form with a wind-assisted 9.72 seconds at the NCAA Championships.

Ajayi will face strong opposition from Chidera Ezeakor, Enoch Adegoke, Israel Okon and Favour Ashe in what is expected to be a fiercely contested race.

The women’s sprint events also boast impressive depth, with Blessing Ogundiran, Rosemary Nwankwo, Rosemary Chukwuma, Maria Thompson and teenage sensation Miracle Ezechukwu all expected to challenge for honours.

In the men’s 400m, rising star Samuel Ogazi will be one of the athletes to watch. The University of Alabama standout recently clocked a personal best of 43.38 seconds, elevating him to the top of the world rankings and reinforcing his status as one of the brightest prospects in global athletics.

Ogazi will face competition from Ezekiel Asuquo, Gafari Badmus and Sikiru Adeyemi.

The women’s 400m features a strong field led by Ella Onojuvwevwo, alongside Jecinta Lawrence, Esther Okon, Toheebat Jimoh and experienced campaigner Patience Okon-George.

African record holder Ezekiel Nathaniel heads into the men’s 400m hurdles as the athlete to beat. The Baylor University star remains one of Africa’s leading performers in the event and is widely expected to dominate proceedings in Lagos.

The field events are equally loaded with quality and international pedigree.

Nigeria’s most successful thrower, Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, will headline the men’s shot put competition. The African record holder recently won gold at the Znamensky Memorial in Russia with a throw of 21.27m and followed up with a second-place finish at the Golden Spikes Meet in Ostrava, Czech Republic, where he recorded 21.43m.

In the men’s javelin, attention will be on Chinecherem Nnamdi, who recently achieved a personal best of 82.26m before becoming the first Nigerian man to win the NCAA javelin title.

The women’s high jump will showcase NCAA champion Temitope Adeshina, whose remarkable collegiate season culminated in an NCAA outdoor title after clearing 1.99m. The Texas Tech athlete completed an unbeaten campaign and secured a rare NCAA indoor and outdoor championship sweep.

Another major attraction will be Commonwealth Games champion and World Championships medallist Ese Brume, who returns to national competition in the women’s long jump.

Brume’s presence adds further star quality to a championship already packed with elite performers and reinforces Nigeria’s medal prospects ahead of Glasgow.

Beyond qualification places, athletes will also compete for financial incentives through the Excellence in Athletics Prize initiative. More than ₦3 million has been earmarked for outstanding home-based athletes and coaches, with the awards sponsored by Athletics Federation of Nigeria Second Vice President Aku Aghazu in memory of her late father, Ben Aghazu.

The initiative has received support from former athletes and athletics stakeholders, including Gbolahan Fatuga and Kunle Oguneye, who will reward winners of the women’s 200m and 400m events.

With Olympic and World Championship stars, African record holders, NCAA champions and rising talents all set to compete, the Commonwealth Games Trials promise three days of high-quality competition as athletes battle for the opportunity to represent Nigeria on one of the sport’s biggest stages.