By Our Correspondent
National News – Rosemary Chukwuma, Nigeria’s former national women’s 100m champion, kicked off her 2026 outdoor season with a stunning victory at the Battle on the Bayou in Louisiana.
The 24-year-old sprinted to first place in 10.81s (+3.1 m/s), narrowly defeating training partner Favour Ofili and Canada’s Audrey Leduc, who tied for second in 10.93s.
Chukwuma exploded out of the blocks and maintained her lead throughout, fending off a late challenge from Ofili at the finish line.
While this marks her fastest all-conditions time, the strong tailwind means her official personal best remains 10.88s, set in Fayetteville, USA, in May 2024.
Chukwuma has already beaten Ofili twice this season. In February, she won the women’s 60m in 7.17s, narrowly outpacing American sprinter Alia Armstrong (7.19s), with Ofili third in 7.23s.
At the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, Chukwuma represented Nigeria in the 100m but did not progress past the heats.
The former African U-20 champion has been a reliable competitor for Nigeria, reaching the semi-finals of the Paris 2024 Olympics and contributing to relay successes, including gold at the African Games and bronze at the Commonwealth Games.
Chukwuma first gained international attention in 2018, winning 100m gold at the Youth Olympics.
Her victory in Louisiana highlights her consistent improvement and readiness for the 2026 season, signaling potential medal prospects at major upcoming global competitions.
Fans and sports analysts are watching closely as she battles her rivals on the international sprinting stage.
