Grace Nwokocha has announced her return to competitive athletics in emphatic fashion, nearly three years after serving a suspension, by cruising to victory in the women’s 60 metres at the Washburn Open.
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The Nigerian sprinter clocked 7.67 seconds to comfortably win her heat, signaling a strong and confidence-boosting start to her 2026 indoor season.
The performance marks her first major competitive outing since returning to the track and offers early signs that the 22-year-old is steadily finding her rhythm again.
Nwokocha, one of Nigeria’s most exciting sprint talents before her time away from the sport, owns personal bests of 7.36s in the 60m and 10.97s in the 100m—times that underline her pedigree at the highest level.
While her Washburn Open time is some distance from those marks, the race was widely viewed as a statement of intent rather than a peak performance.
Her return adds fresh depth to Nigeria’s sprinting pool at a time when the country continues to rebuild and strengthen its women’s track contingent ahead of major international competitions.
With the season still in its early stages, all eyes will be on Nwokocha to see how quickly she can build momentum, sharpen her form, and re-establish herself among the continent’s elite sprinters.
If her opening race is anything to go by, Grace Nwokocha’s comeback story is only just beginning.
