World record holder Tobi Amusan has risen to third place in the latest World Athletics women’s 100m hurdles rankings, becoming Nigeria’s highest-ranked athlete following her silver medal at the Tokyo 2025 World Championships.
The 28-year-old hurdler leapt from ninth to third after amassing 1,430 points, now trailing only the United States’ Grace Stark (No. 1) and Switzerland’s world champion Ditaji Kambundji (No. 2). Amusan also made a remarkable jump in the overall women’s rankings, climbing 40 places from 68th to 28th — making her the only Nigerian woman currently inside the global top 100.
Nigeria’s rising star Ezekiel Nathaniel was another standout mover. The 22-year-old quarter-miler, who broke the national 400m hurdles record five times this season, surged from 59th to 15th in the overall world rankings while retaining fifth place in his event. He sits just behind world champion Rai Benjamin (USA), record holder Karsten Warholm (Norway), Alison dos Santos (Brazil), and Abderrahman Samba (Qatar).
In the field events, shot putter Chukwuebuka Enekwechi entered the world’s top 100 for the first time, now ranked 99th overall. He also sits 7th globally in the men’s shot put after a season highlighted by his record-breaking 22.10m throw — the longest by an African — at the Prefontaine Classic.
Sprinters also made notable progress. Kanyinsola Ajayi, after finishing sixth in the men’s 100m final in Tokyo, climbed from 29th to 13th in his event rankings and made a massive leap in the overall list, moving from 417th to 171st. His compatriot Israel Okon rose to 38th in the 100m after reaching the semi-finals. Udodi Onwuzurike also impressed, improving to 25th in the 200m and maintaining strong positions across sprint disciplines.
Other Nigerians saw modest gains:
- Chidi Okezie (400m) – 32nd in event, 527th overall.
- Samuel Ogazi (400m) – 38th in event, 614th overall.
- Charles Godfred (long jump) – 38th in event, 825th overall.
On the women’s side, former world long jump medalist Ese Brume dropped to 28th in her event and 800th overall after an early exit in Tokyo. Rising star Prestina Ochonogor, the African U20 record holder, is 42nd in the long jump and 1,326th overall. Discus throwers Chioma Onyekwere-Lyons and Obiageri Amaechi are ranked 25th and 30th respectively, while hammer thrower Sade Olatoye sits 32nd in her discipline. Sprinter Rosemary Chukwuma ranks 57th in the women’s 100m and 750th overall.
Globally, Sweden’s pole vault sensation Armand Duplantis remains the world’s No. 1 athlete with 1,638 points, ahead of Rai Benjamin and Noah Lyles. On the women’s side, Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet leads after clinching a 5,000m/10,000m double in Tokyo, followed by U.S. sprint star Melissa Jefferson-Wooden and 1,500m queen Faith Kipyegon.
Amusan’s resurgence and the rise of other Nigerians mark a strong showing for the country on the world stage as the 2025 season wraps up.
