World Championships silver medalist, Ese Brume, has landed in China in search of Diamond League points.
Brume, a three-time World Athletics Championships (indoors and outdoor) medalist, is seeking to become the second Nigerian to compete in the final of the Diamond League. She was confirmed for the Xiamen, China meeting, this Saturday (September 2, 2023).
Brume’s coach, Kayode Yahaya, who was part of Team Nigeria’s squad to the 19th World Athletics Championships in Budapest, told The Guardian, that the long jumper has arrived in China.
Brume, who narrowly missed a podium finish by placing fourth in the long jump in Budapest, is in China for the 12th leg of Diamond League to earn the points that would enable her join her compatriot, Tobi Amusan, in Eugene, Oregon, U.S., in a fortnight.
She is currently placed seventh in the Diamond League long jump standing with 10 points, just a place outside the six required to compete in Oregon. But the Nigerian will seal her place in the final if she places above the chasing duo of Quanesha Burks of the USA (nine points) and Great Britain’s Jazmin Sawyers (nine points).
The Commonwealth Games champion and record holder, missed out on making the trip to Zurich, Switzerland, last year for the final after finishing just a place below the required number of competitors. She knows her chances of ending the year on a high rest on her performance in China.
The African record holder (7.17m) has competed just thrice in the Diamond League this year, placing fifth in Florence, Italy in June, fourth in Stockholm, Sweden and first at the Herculis in Monaco, France both in July.
She will be seeking to become the second Nigerian to win a Diamond League trophy and first field athlete to qualify for the final and win it.
Meanwhile, facts have emerged on why 100m hurdles world record holder, Tobi Amusan’s name was removed from the list of top athletes confirmed for yesterday’s Weltklasse Diamond League meeting in Switzerland.
Amusan’s name was originally on the list before it was removed by the organisers.
The Guardian learnt that Amusan called the organisers that she won’t be able to compete at the Weltklasse Diamond League, yesterday in Zurich.
“I am sure Amusan called them from Budapest that she won’t be able to compete in Switzerland, and the organisers have to quickly remove her name to accommodate another athlete so that the slot won’t be empty,” coach Yahaya explained.
“Amusan has already gathered enough points, and she is looking forward to the big showdown in Oregon, United States,” Yahaya added.
Amusan has won twice at the meeting after making her debut in 2021. She broke Gloria Alozie’s 12.44 African record at the Letzigrund stadium, venue of the meeting in 2021 after she sped to a 12.42 seconds finish to make history as the first Nigerian to win a Diamond League trophy.
She successfully defended her title the following year, running a 12.29 seconds meet record.
The Diamond League final will hold at the Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, U.S. this month. Amusan will be seeking to become the second woman after Dawn Nelson-Harper to win the high hurdles three consecutive times.
