Chukwuma, Okon-George headline Johnson meet

The Nigerian duo of Rosemary Chukwuma, and Patience Okon-George are expected to race against some of the finest athletes in the world at the Michael Johnson Invitational.

The meet is set to be a star-studded affair, with some of the world’s top athletes set to compete this weekend at the Clyde Hart Track and Field Stadium in Waco, Texas.

The two Nigerian athletes will be competing in the 200-meter and 400m events with some of the world’s best elite runners.

Tech University junior student and Commonwealth Games champion Chukwuma raced to impressive time wind-aided time of 10.85secs to finish second in the women’s 100m, behind NCAA’s best sprinter Julien Alfred with 10.72secs at the Tom Jones Invitational which held between April 14-15 at the James G. Pressly Stadium in Gainesville, Florida.

The African Games winner has been in outstanding form since her season’s debut at the Texas Tech Corky classic in January, where she clocked a then Personal Best (PB), School Record (SR), and world-leading time of 7.11secs to win her qualifying heat and ran within the same time to win the final in 7.13secs.

Compatriot and fellow African Games winner Okon-George will square up to compete in the 200m and 400m against Abby Steiner and former world champion Salwa Eid Naser.

Okon-George started her 2023 season at the Lagos Athletics Series League held in February in Lagos, where she won the 400m in 54.12secs.