Nigeria’s World 100m hurdles record holder, Tobi Amusan, has been left out of the final start list for the Diamond League Final in Zurich, leaving compatriots Udodi Onwuzurike and Ezekiel Nathaniel to fly the country’s flag in their debut appearances.
Amusan, who finished second in the Diamond League 100m hurdles standings behind American Grace Stark, had been confirmed for Thursday’s showdown as of Tuesday night.
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However, her name was conspicuously missing when World Athletics released the official start list on Wednesday, with no explanation provided.
The 28-year-old was aiming to win a third Diamond League trophy in Zurich after previous victories in 2021 and 2022.
A fourth overall triumph would have put her level with Dawn Harper-Nelson’s record of four Diamond League 100m hurdles titles.
Her omission means that dream has now ended for this season.
Attention will now shift to Nigeria’s rising stars, Onwuzurike and Nathaniel, who are set for their first-ever Diamond League Finals.
Onwuzurike has been drawn in lane one of the men’s 200m, where Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo will start in lane six, just inside reigning world champion Noah Lyles in lane seven.
In the men’s 400m hurdles, Nathaniel will compete from lane five. He faces a tough field led by Olympic and world champion Karsten Warholm, who will start in lane seven as the overwhelming favourite.
The Zurich Diamond League Final promises high-level competition, but for Nigeria, the spotlight will now be on its two debutants looking to announce themselves on the global stage in the absence of Amusan.
