Nigerian athletics delivered contrasting results for two of its leading stars, Tobi Amusan and Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, in early 2026 international competitions, as preparations intensify for the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.
World 100m hurdles record holder Tobi Amusan launched her outdoor season strongly at the Velocity Fest in Jamaica. The Nigerian sprint queen finished second in the women’s 200m, posting a solid season’s best time of 23.25 seconds. She placed behind double Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah, who won in 22.61s, while Jamaica’s Ackera Nugent took third in 23.35s. Amusan’s performance demonstrates her continued versatility across sprint events and bodes well for her upcoming campaign focused on hurdles and sprints.
In contrast, shot put standout Chukwuebuka Enekwechi had a tougher outing at the World Athletics Indoor Championships held in Toruń, Poland. Representing Nigeria as the sole men’s shot put competitor, Enekwechi recorded a throw of 20.04m, finishing 11th overall and failing to advance to the final round. Despite the result falling short of expectations, the African record holder remains a consistent global presence in the event, backed by his strong earlier indoor win of 20.82m at the Orlen Cup Łódź.
Both athletes have strong Commonwealth Games pedigrees: Amusan is a multiple-time gold medalist in the 100m hurdles (including defending her title in Birmingham 2022 with a Games record), while Enekwechi secured silver in the shot put at the 2018 Gold Coast edition. With the 2026 Commonwealth Games set for July 23 to August 2 in Glasgow featuring athletics among its 10 sports and Nigeria’s preparations are ramping up. The National Sports Commission has provided grants and training camps (including a planned stint in Scotland) to support stars like Amusan and Enekwechi, amid reports of efforts to overcome logistical challenges for the team.
These performances highlight the unpredictable nature of elite athletics, with Amusan’s encouraging start providing optimism for Nigerian fans as the 2026 season progresses, particularly with the Commonwealth Games on the horizon.
