Ochonogor left out of Commonwealth Games long jump

National champion Prestina Ochonogor will not take part in the women’s long jump at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. The organisers turned down Nigeria’s request to include her in the event, according to PUNCH Sports Extra.

Nigeria wanted to enter both Ochonogor and Ruth Usoro after Ese Brume, an experienced jumper, withdrew from the competition. But on Sunday, Team Nigeria received a letter from the Games’ Technical Delegate, Chris Cohen. The letter stated that Ochonogor could not be added to the final entry list because she was not part of the original submission.

Cohen wrote, “After a check of the final confirmation forms, it was seen that Prestina Ochonogor had been added by Nigeria to the Women’s Long Jump.

“Nigeria has already made a late athlete replacement for this event (BRUME replaced by USORO). Countries are not allowed to add more athletes to events, as only one athlete was entered originally and therefore only one athlete is allowed to compete in this event.

“For this reason, Ochonogor will not be allowed to enter the women’s long jump.”

Ochonogor got national selection after winning the women’s long jump at the National Athletics Trials in June. At the Yabatech Sports Complex in Yaba, Lagos, she jumped 6.57m to secure her spot in the absence of national record holder Brume.

Her jump was enough to beat a strong group in one of Nigeria’s most competitive athletics events. Now, she will miss the Commonwealth Games due to the entry rules.