All roads will lead to the Yabatech Sports Complex from Saturday as the Commonwealth Games National Trials take centre stage.
A total of 32 events will be contested, but attention will undoubtedly focus on 14 marquee events expected to produce world-class performances and fierce rivalries.
The men’s and women’s 100m, 200m and 400m races are expected to dominate discussions throughout the three days.
Leading the cast in the women’s sprint hurdles is African record holder and world champion Tobi Amusan, who appears to have rediscovered the form that made her one of the world’s most feared athletes.
While Amusan enters the Trials as the overwhelming favourite in the women’s 100m hurdles, Adaobi Tabogo is expected to provide strong competition and test the reigning queen of African hurdles.
The men’s 100m promises to be one of the most captivating events of the championships.
All eyes will be on Kanyinsola Ajayi, the Auburn University star who has emerged as Nigeria’s latest sprint sensation.
Ajayi shocked the athletics world at the NCAA East Regional Championships when he clocked 9.84secs to erase the long-standing Nigerian record of 9.85secs set by Olusoji Fasuba two decades ago.
Ajayi, however, will face formidable opposition from CAA Senior Athletics Championships bronze medallist Chidera Ezeakor, Olympian Enoch Adegoke, Israel Okon and Favour Ashe.
The women’s sprint races are equally loaded with quality. The depth of Nigerian sprinting will be showcased by athletes such as Blessing Ogundiran, Rosemary Nwankwo, Rosemary Chukwuma, Maria Thompson and teenage sensation Miracle Ezechukwu.
