Ese Brume, the accomplished long jumper from Delta State, has etched her name in history as the first Nigerian field event athlete to secure a spot in the final of the prestigious Diamond League, athletics’ premier one-day series.
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Brume’s remarkable achievement unfolded at the 12th leg of the 14-leg Diamond League meetings held in Xiamen, China, on a memorable Saturday.
Brume’s leap of 6.71 meters not only earned her a third-place finish but also secured her entry into the Diamond League final.
In a competition featuring top-caliber athletes, she trailed behind the reigning world indoor and outdoor champion, Ivan Vuleta of Serbia, who set a meeting record with a jump of 6.88 meters. Burkina Faso’s Marthe Koala also outjumped Brume, reaching 6.79 meters, just eight centimeters beyond the Nigerian’s mark.
Ese Brume’s performance in Xiamen awarded her six points, contributing to her overall points tally of 16, securing her place among the six athletes who will compete in the Diamond League final. The final will be held for the first time in Oregon, USA, in two weeks’ time.
This historic achievement means that Nigeria will have two athletes at the Diamond League final in the same year for the first time.
Sprint hurdler Tobi Amusan set this milestone in 2021 when she became the first Nigerian to win a Diamond League trophy. She successfully defended her title last year, setting a meeting record with a time of 12.29 seconds at the Weltklasse in Zurich.
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In the current season, Tobi Amusan is on a quest to claim her third consecutive Diamond League title in the 100m hurdles, aiming to join the elite ranks of athletes who have achieved such a feat, like Dawn Harper-Nelson.
Ese Brume, on her part, will be vying to become the second Nigerian to capture a Diamond League trophy and the first to achieve this distinction in a field event.
She will face stiff competition in the winner-takes-all final from Ivan Vuleta, Iapichino of Italy, USA’s Tara Davis-Woodhall, Brooke Buschkuehl of Australia, and Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk of Ukraine.
The winner of each Diamond League discipline is not only awarded the prestigious “Diamond Trophy” but also receives a substantial prize of US$30,000 and a coveted wild card entry for the World Athletics Championships.
Ese Brume’s journey to the Diamond League final marks a significant moment in Nigerian athletics, highlighting the country’s potential in field events on the global stage.
