Nigeria will be well represented at the landmark 50th edition of the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon, with five standout athletes, headlined by Favour Ofili and Ezekiel Nathaniel, set to compete alongside some of the biggest names in global athletics, including 14 world record holders.

Both Ofili and Nathaniel will be making their Diamond League debuts at the iconic Hayward Field, marking a significant step forward in their blossoming international careers.

Joining them on track are 100m hurdles world record holder and three-time Diamond League champion Tobi Amusan, world-ranked shot putter Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, and seasoned sprinter Rosemary Chukwuma.

Nathaniel, the reigning NCAA 400m hurdles champion, is enjoying a breakout 2025 season. He won the US collegiate title at the same Hayward Field with a time of 47.49s and earlier set a new African indoor record in the 400m (44.74s). His stellar performances earned him the NCAA Men’s Track Athlete of the Year award. Now, he’ll face the ultimate test against world-class opposition, including Olympic champion Rai Benjamin, world bronze medallist Alison dos Santos, and Qatar’s Abderrahman Samba.

In the women’s 100m, Ofili is set to take on one of the most anticipated fields of the meet, a full rematch of the 2024 Olympic podium. The Nigerian sprint sensation will line up against Olympic gold medallist Julien Alfred of Saint Lucia, USA’s Sha’Carri Richardson, and bronze medallist Melissa Jefferson-Wooden. With her continued rise and improving personal bests, Ofili is aiming to solidify her place among the elite.

Tobi Amusan returns to familiar ground at Hayward Field, where she famously broke the world record in 2022 with a stunning 12.12s in the 100m hurdles. She will once again be in the spotlight, taking on a formidable field that includes reigning Olympic champion Masai Russell of the US and Tokyo 2020 gold medallist Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Puerto Rico, who also claimed bronze in Paris 2024.

In the men’s shot put, Chukwuebuka Enekwechi is set to challenge the very best, including American powerhouses Joe Kovacs and Ryan Crouser and Jamaica’s Rajindra Campbell. Ranked seventh globally, Enekwechi enters with a season’s best of 21.62m and boasts a personal record of 21.91m, maintaining his status as Nigeria’s premier thrower.

Rounding out Team Nigeria’s contingent is Rosemary Chukwuma, a former Youth Olympic champion and 2019 African Games gold medallist. She will feature in the women’s 100m invitational, where she’ll look to make a strong impression against top-tier competition, including Aleia Hobbs, Natasha Morrison, and Alana Reid. Chukwuma holds a personal best of 10.88s.

The 2025 Prefontaine Classic, named in honour of American distance running icon Steve Prefontaine, will host nearly 300 athletes from over 40 countries. The meet will feature 27 events, including 17 Diamond League disciplines, and showcase a staggering 98 Olympic and Paralympic medallists, 48 of them gold, and 14 world record holders.