Former national 100m champion Rosemary Chukwuma made a strong start to her outdoor campaign with an impressive victory at the Battle on the Bayou meet in Louisiana, finishing ahead of compatriot Favour Ofili and Canada’s Audrey Leduc.

 

Chukwuma powered to the win in 10.81 seconds, aided by a +3.1 m/s tailwind, while Ofili and Leduc shared second place with identical times of 10.93 seconds.

 

The 24-year-old Nigerian exploded out of the blocks and maintained control throughout the race, holding off a late charge from Ofili to seal victory at the line. Although the time marks the fastest all-conditions performance of her career, it will not count as an official personal best due to the excessive wind assistance. Her legal best remains 10.88 seconds, recorded in May 2024 at the John McDonnell Field.

 

This latest triumph continues Chukwuma’s dominance over her training partner, having now beaten Ofili twice this season. She previously opened her year indoors with a win in the 60m, clocking 7.17 seconds to edge American sprinter Alia Armstrong, while Ofili finished third in that race.

 

Despite her strong form, Chukwuma faced disappointment at the 2025 World Athletics Championships, where she was Nigeria’s sole representative in the women’s 100m but failed to progress beyond the heats.

 

The former African U-20 champion, however, remains a key figure in Nigerian athletics. She reached the semi-finals at the Paris 2024 Olympics and has contributed to relay success on the continental and international stage, including gold at the African Games and bronze at the Commonwealth Games.

 

Chukwuma first rose to global prominence in 2018 after winning the 100m title at the Youth Olympics, and her latest performance signals a promising season ahead as she builds momentum toward upcoming international competitions.