Nigerian duo, Blessing Okagbare and Kemi Adekoya are set to make improvements on their points haul in the Diamond League chase as they take to the field to contest with their respective rivals today at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, USA.

Blessing Okagbare

Okagbare fresh from the World Relays in Nassau, Bahamas will face rival Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce in the 200m where Okagbare tops the log with four points. At the last Diamond League meet in Shanghai, China the Nigerian sprint queen ran 22. 36 seconds. If she beats Fraser-Pryce today, she will remain in contention for the top prize. Yesterday, she did women long jump.

Adekoya is leading the log in the women 400m hurdles. She is expected to improve on her 54.59 world leading time; she did at the Doha meet. Athletics Federation of Nigeria officials could only wish that they have this woman on their list of elite athletes. She wears the colours of Bahrain, where renowned Nigerian coach John Obeya is working.

Kenya’s world 800m record-holder, David Rudisha is making a return today following knee injury problems as he lines up as part of a high-class field including world indoor and outdoor champion Mohammed Aman of Ethiopia and Botswana’s Olympic silver medalist Nijel Amos. Olympic fourth-placer Duane Solomon of the US is also entered, as is his fellow Olympic finalist Andrew Osagie of Britain.

World 1500m champion Asbel Kiprop is set to star in the final event of the programme, the Bowerman Mile, while the 5000m field includes Ethiopia’s Yenew Alamirew, his compatriot, the world silver medalist Hagos Gebrhiwet, and USA’s Bernard Lagat. Britain’s double world and Olympic champion Mo Farah is the honorary starter for the race.