Diamond League: Amusan leads Nigerian trio into finale push in Zurich

Nigeria’s world record holder Tobi Amusan will headline a strong Nigerian contingent at the final Diamond League meeting of the season in Zurich on Thursday, with compatriots Ezekiel Nathaniel and Chukwuebuka Enekwechi also set to compete against some of the biggest names in global athletics.

The iconic Zurich meeting will span two days, with the women’s pole vault taking place at Zurich train station on Wednesday before the main programme moves to the Letzigrund Stadium on Thursday.

For several athletes, the meeting represents the final opportunity to collect valuable points and secure qualification for the Wanda Diamond League Final, scheduled for Brussels on 4-5 September.

Amusan and several other athletes have already booked their places in the season-ending final, but others will be desperate to add to their points tally in Zurich and keep their qualification hopes alive.

The Nigerian hurdler will return to Diamond League action for the first time since June, having subsequently competed at the Commonwealth Games, where she won a bronze medal.

Amusan faces a formidable challenge in Zurich as she takes on Olympic champion Masai Russell, who will be looking to maintain her unbeaten run in the women’s 100m hurdles this season.

Russell has enjoyed an impressive campaign, highlighted by her 12.14-second performance in Xiamen in May. The time was just 0.02 seconds outside Amusan’s world record.

The women’s 100m hurdles field also includes Alaysha Johnson, Nadine Visser and home favourite Ditaji Kambundji, setting the stage for another high-quality battle.

Nathaniel faces Warholm, dos Santos again

Meanwhile, Commonwealth Games champion Ezekiel Nathaniel will be chasing valuable points in the men’s 400m hurdles.

Nathaniel…