Four Nigerian athletes are set to compete at the first Lone Star Grand Prix in Texas on Saturday. The athletes are 150m world record holder Favour Ofili, African 400m hurdles record holder Ezekiel Nathaniel, Rosemary Chukwuma, and African indoor 400m record holder Ella Onojuvwevwo, according to PUNCH Sports Extra.
The Lone Star Grand Prix is part of the new USATF Tour. It is one of two World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meetings happening in the United States this season. The other meeting is the Los Angeles Grand Prix, which will take place later this month.
For Ofili, this meeting is a chance to test her skills against top athletes in the women’s 200m. She recently had her switch to represent Turkey turned down. Ofili will face tough competition, including reigning Olympic champion Gabby Thomas, Rhasidat Adeleke, who finished fourth in the Olympic 400m, and world finalist Deajah Stevens. Cambrea Sturgis, who has already run 21.93 this season, will also be in the race.
Other announced athletes include American high school star Mariah Maxwell and World Championships relay gold winners Jenna Prandini and Kayla White.
Chukwuma, with a personal best of 10.95 seconds, is entered in a strong women’s 100m race. She has also run a wind-assisted 10.81 this season. In this event, she will compete against 2023 world 4x100m relay champion Tamari Davis and Jamaica’s world 4x100m silver medallist Jodean Williams.
In the women’s 400m, Onojuvwevwo aims to continue her strong performance after setting the African indoor record of 50.28 earlier this year. She also had an impressive outdoor season opener with a time of 49.59. She will race against Jamaica’s Stacey Ann Williams and Americans Britton Wilson and Bailey Lear.
Nathaniel will kick off his season in the men’s 400m hurdles. He will face a field full of global talent. His competitors include world finalist Caleb Dean, who has run 47.75 this season, and 2022 world bronze medallist Trevor Bassitt, who has a time of 47.82.
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