*Stop Press*
Ese Brume has won Nigeria's only official medal of World Athletics Championships 2019.

Her leap of 6.91 m clinched Nigeria first official medal at a global championships in 6 years

Below is the first of six of our medal contenders coming into the Championships.

Divine Oduduru Age: 22


Competing in men's 100m and 200m

100m. personal best 9.86sec seasons best:9.86sec

Has joint 2nd fastest time in world this year .

200m PB: 19.73. SB: 19.73
This 3rd fastest time in the world this year and Nigerian record.

Prospects: Has lost his early season form, it is yet to be seen if he can recapture his form in time for Doha World championships; if so he should be able to win silver medals in both 100m and 200m events.

Blessing Okagbare-Ighoteguonor Age: 30

Competes in Women's 100m and 200m

100m :
PB:10.79 SB: 11.04
Seasons best ranks her 7th in world for 100m this year .

200m
: PB: 22.05. SB:22.05
Her time for 200m represents 3rd fastest this year and the new African Record.

Prospects: Inconsistent performances this season, but if she could produce her best at the championship she should expect to make finals for 100m and 200m and may have a possible chance of bronze medal in 200m
.

Tobi Amusan Age: 22
Competes in women's 100m hurdles

100mH. PB: 12.49. SB: 12.49
Has 3rd fastest time in world this year of all entrants for this world championships event . 4th fastest in world overall.

Prospects: Probably our best prospect for a gold .

Ese Brume Age: 23

Women's Long Jump

PB: 7.05m. SB: 7.05m

She has second longest jump in world this year behind the German favourite who has jumped 7.16m.

Prospects : Ese is another athlete with one of our best chance of a gold medal.

Raymond Ekevwo Age: 20
Men's 100m

PB: 9.96. SB: 9.96

His time ranks 9th in world.
He is the All African Games 100m champion and championship record holder.

Prospect: Raymond should be aiming to make the 100m final and has a chance of winning the bronze medal.

Chukwuebuka Enekwechi Age: 26
Men's Shot Putt
PB: 21.80m. SB: 21.80m

World class performance ranks at approx number 10 in world this season.
All Africa Games Champion 2019.

Prospect: Has chance to get to top 6 at Doha, a bronze medal is possible if he can improve his best throw by 1.5ft to go beyond 22.20m mark.

Buhari magic!

May our Gods support this talented team to bring out their best performance in Doha.

Nigeria is coming back!

Men's 4x100m Relay
Nigeria relay team has a season's best of 38.4 which ranks 17th in world this season.
Won silver in recent All African Games in Marrakech.
Members of relay team includes:

Divine Odurudu. 9.86 (age: 22)
Raymond Ekevwo 9.96. (20)
Usheoritse Itsekiri 10.02. (21)
Seye Ogunlewe. 10.11. (28)
Enoch Adegoke. 10.12. (19)

Can we credit Buhari and previous minister of sports for this turn around in fortunes for the nation in Athletics at least?

Championships starts 27th September

GenBuhari:
Can we credit Buhari and previous minister of sports for this turn around in fortunes for the nation in Athletics at least?

shut up and credit the delta State government who have owned these athletes of delta State origin who are the majority.

You are right at least two of our best sprinters are from Delta. It probably means the State government is likely doing something right, but Federal government who pays monthly allocations to States also must get credit.

gibzzhd:

shut up and credit the delta State government who have owned these athletes of delta State origin who are the majority.

Buhari hails our athletes after great performance at All African Games

All this new crop of talented athletes are so young they are probably referring to 30 year old Blessing as "Aunty ".

Enoch Adegoke. 19 y.o.
Raymond Ekevwo. 20 y.o.
Usheoritse Itsekiri. 21 y.o
Devine Oduduru. 22 y.o.
Tobi Amusan. 22 y.o.
Ese Brume. 23 y.o.

The future of Nigerian athletics is looking very bright!

For once Blessing is not alone in carrying nation's hopes on her shoulders. Perhaps with the pressure on her lessened, she may perform better than she had done in last three global championships.

Event preview:

Men's 100m

Clear favourite is Christian Coleman USA, with world fastest of 9.81sec.
He holds the 60m world record and was silver medalist at last world championships in 2017

Justin Gatlin would likely edge ahead of the pack to pinch the silver medal but the race for silver and bronze medals is really quite open;
We hope Divine and Raymond can capture medals if they have inspired race in the final.

Let's not overlook the incredible talent of our youngster 20 years old Raymond Ekevwo. 9.96 could very well be a world best for a 20 year old or very close to the world best . In the final who who knows how much he can improve. A medal though seemingly unlikely, is a possibility.

Event preview
Men 200m

Favourite for title is Noah Lyles of USA
Who has world leading time of 19.50 this year.

Remaining lower medals is very open for a number of athletes to win.

If he can return to his early season performance levels Oduduru should stand the best chance of clinching the silver medal.

Event Preview: Women's 100m

Gold: Would likely be won by one of top 3 performers this year.

These 3 will likely share the 3 medals

Elaine Thompson. SB: 10.73
Shelley Ann Fraser-Pryce. SB: 10.73
Dina Asher-smith SB: 10.88

Blessing can hope for 4th place at the very best, but realistically anything better than 6th would be a good performance for her.

Event preview:. Women's 200m

Clear favourite is:

Shaunae Miller-Uibo (Bahamas). SB: 21.76

Minor medals likely to be shared by the following athletes:

Elaine Thompson (Jamaica) SB: 22.00

Blessing Okagbare-Ighoteguonor. SB: 22.05

Dina Asher-Smith (UK). SB: 22.08

Blessing Okagbare-Ighoteguonor could get a bronze medal if she runs an inspired race. But realistically 4th position is most likely result.

Event preview: Women's 100m hurdle

Top 4 season best of performers who would be at the championships are:

Danielle Williams (JAM): 12.32

Janeek Brown. (JAM) : 12.40

Kendra Harrison (USA): 12.43

Tobi Amusan. (NGR) : 12.49

Harrison is also world record holder.

2013 World champion & reigning Olympic champion Brianna McNeal (USA) is also in the event, but is not running as well as she usually does going into these championships with season's best of 12.61.

Tobi's form coming into these championships and her ability to raise her performance on big occasions, is what I believe makes her amongst the favourites to win a medal.

Danielle Williams of Jamaica is the fave to win gold she has the leading time. However, yea hurdles can be tricky.

GenBuhari:
Event preview: Women's 100m hurdle

Top 3 season best of performers who would be at the championships are:
Janeek Brown. (JAM) : 12.40

Kendra Harrison (USA): 12.43

Tobi Amusan. (NGR) : 12.49

Harrison is also world record holder.

2013 World champion & reigning Olympic champion Brianna McNeal (USA) is also in the event, but is not running as well as she usually does going into these championships with season's best of 12.61.

Tobi's form coming into these championships and her ability to raise her performance on big occasions, is what I believe makes her amongst the favourites to win the gold medal.

You are right that Williams has world leading time , but she would not be at the championships she false started at the Jamaican national trials so she has not been included in Jamaican team for these championships.

liberalchick:
Danielle Williams of Jamaica is the fave to win gold she has the leading time. However, yea hurdles can be tricky.

She will be at the championship, she won the diamond league final.

GenBuhari:
You are right that Williams has world leading time , but she would not be at the championships she false started at the Jamaican national trials so she has not been included in Jamaican team for these championships.

Has it been confirmed, that she is in the team?

If so, then she is undoubtedly the favourite.

liberalchick:
She will be at the championship, she won the diamond league final.

All DL championship winners get automatic qualification in their respective discipline to Doha.

GenBuhari:
Has it been confirmed, that she is in the team?

If so, then she is undoubtedly the favourite.

What event(s) are you most excited to see?

GenBuhari:
Event preview: Women's 100m hurdle

Top 3 season best of performers who would be at the championships are:
Janeek Brown. (JAM) : 12.40

Kendra Harrison (USA): 12.43

Tobi Amusan. (NGR) : 12.49

Harrison is also world record holder.

2013 World champion & reigning Olympic champion Brianna McNeal (USA) is also in the event, but is not running as well as she usually does going into these championships with season's best of 12.61.

Tobi's form coming into these championships and her ability to raise her performance on big occasions, is what I believe makes her amongst the favourites to win the gold medal.

Has it been confirmed, that she is in the team?

If so then , she undoubtedly the favourite.

liberalchick:
She will be at the championship, she won the diamond league final.

I know. You are correct, I am kinda hoping she doesn't make it to Doha for Tobi's sake

liberalchick:
All DL championship winners get automatic qualification in their respective discipline to Doha.

Looking forward to
Men's 100, 200, 400, 400H , SP, TJ, JT, DT 4x100.
Women's 100, 200,400,100H, 400H, LJ, heptathlon.
@ liberalchick
Are you a student athlete in US?

lol it's the 100mH very unpredictable! Keni world record holder has never won a medal! Also, Tobi beat Danielle at the commonwealth games last season. So whoever shows up in the final, will win. Tobi has the PB to take the Gold, if Danielle has a misstep.

No, I am not a student just love sports.
Do you know if Samba will run? I barely saw him at the DL. The Norwegian is fave to retain his title. Do you think Norman will break the 400M record? He is the only man that beat Noah Lyles at 200M.

GenBuhari:
I know. You are correct, I am kinda hoping she doesn't make it to Doha for Tobi's case


Looking forward to
Men's 100, 200, 400, 400H , SP, TJ, JT, DT 4x100.
Women's 100, 200,400,100H, 400H, LJ
@ liberalchick
Are you a student athlete in US?

Women's 100H - There is so much talent and experience in the field like Olympic champion Brianna McNeal, world record holder Kendra Harrison, Nia Ali indoor 60mH world champ.

So it may not be a simple 2-horse race. If the Americans perfect their preparation to be at their best , it could be difficult to predict the champion.

It hasn't occurred to me that Samba will not run, but now you brought it up, the fact he never appeared for last few DLs and especially the DL final may indicate all is not well.

In the 400H, The Norwegian Karsten Warholm may be the slight favourite, but USA's Rai Benjamin has the ability to cause an upset and clinch the gold. If conditions are right it would likely be won in a new world record of around 46.70.

In the men's 400 Norman will need perfect conditions and competition to even approach the world record. That record is so tough it cannot be broken easily. Norman if pushed by Kerly and others may possibly get as close as 43.20.

Christian Coleman will run a very fast time in 100m if conditions are right getting very close to
Usain Bolt's world record. something like 9.60.

Women's 100m will be also won in a very fast 10.65 or faster.(conditions allowing)

liberalchick:
lol it's the 100mH very unpredictable! Keni world record holder has never won a medal! Also, Tobi beat Danielle at the commonwealth games last season. So whoever shows up in the final, will win. Tobi has the PB to take the Gold, if Danielle has a misstep.

No, I am not a student just love sports.
Do you know if Samba will run? I barely saw him at the DL. The Norwegian is fave to retain his title. Do you think Norman will break the 400M record? He is the only man that beat Noah Lyles at 200M.

Wow! Ur post makes Doha exciting to watch! Records might be broken and we don't know who might win.

GenBuhari:
Women's 100H - There is so much talent and experience in the field like Olympic champion Brianna McNeal, world record holder Kendra Harrison, Nia Ali indoor 60mH world champ.

So it may not be a simple 2-horse race. If the Americans perfect their preparation to be at their best , it could be difficult to predict the champion.

It hasn't occurred to me that Samba will not run, but now you brought it up, the fact he never appeared for last few DLs and especially the DL final may indicate all is not well.

In the 400H, The Norwegian Karsten Warholm may be the slight favourite, but USA's Kai Benjamin has the ability to cause an upset and clinch the gold. If conditions are right it would likely be won in a new world record of around 46.70.

In the men's 400 Norman will need perfect conditions and competition to even approach the world record. That record is so tough it cannot be broken easily. Norman if pushed by Kerly and others may possibly get as close as 43.20.

Christian Coleman will run a very fast time in 100m if conditions are right getting very close to
Usain Bolt's world record. something like 9.60.

Women's 100m will be also won in a very fast 10.65 or faster.(conditions allowing)