Ese Brume gets chance to make Diamond League history

Ese Brume (Photo by Andrej ISAKOVIC / AFP)

Olympics, World long jump medalist and Commonwealth Games champion, Ese Brume, will get the chance to make history next month in Zurich as the first Nigerian field athlete to win a Diamond League title.

The African record holder (7.17meters) is one of the eight athletes confirmed to compete in the final of the event in Zurich, Switzerland between September 7 and 8.

Brume qualified for the final of the event after garnering nine points from one second place finish (seven points) in Eugene, USA, and seventh place finish (two points) in Stockholm, Sweden to finish seventh in the ranking.

The winner in Zurich will not be decided based on points accumulated over the course of the season, but by who wins on the day, which gives Brume the chance to make history.

To achieve her dream in Zurich, Brume will, however, have to battle Germany’s Mihambo Malaika, the lady who denied her the World Championships gold last month in Oregon, USA, as well as Ivana Vuleta, the Serbia, who ensured the Nigerian returned home with a silver medal at the World Indoor Championships in March.

Brume, 26, is the only active Nigerian track and field star who has won medals at all major athletics championships and games after retired sprint hurdler, Glory Alozie.

She won medals at the World Athletics’ flagship event, the World Championships indoors and outdoors as well as the Olympics.

But unlike other events, she will need to win at the Diamond League in Zurich as no medals are awarded for second and third place finishes.

If Brume wins, she will be the second Nigerian athlete to do so after sprint hurdler Tobi Amusan, who won the high hurdles title last year at the same venue.

Amusan, who was in action yesterday evening