Rosemary Chukwuma takes on Julien Alfred at Tom Jones Invitational

Rosemary Chukwuma and Julien Alfred

Rosemary Chukwuma takes on Julien Alfred at Tom Jones Invitational

Funmilayo Fameso 15:39 - 14.04.2023

Rosemary Chukwuma and NCAA's most in-form sprinter, Julien Alfred will rekindle their rivalry at the Tom Jones Invitational this weekend.

This weekend will be very fast for many reasons as the best college athletes and professional athletes such as Elaine Thompson-Herah, Noah Lyles, and Tobi Amusan , as well as Rosemary Chukwuma and Julien Alfred battle it out on the track at the Tom Jones Invitational.

Chukwuma will target getting her outdoor season rolling with a fast time, having NCAA's best sprinter Alfred push her in the same 100m heat. Both athletes are in a stacked heat featuring NCAA's best female sprinters.

Chukwuma battles Alfred at Tom Jones Invitational
Rosemary Chukwuma

Alfred tops the list as the NCAA indoor champion and is unbeaten this season, so she's the favourite to win the race. However, with the caliber of runners in the heat such as Chukwuma, Ezinne Abba (who recently switched allegiance back to the USA), Florida's Talitha Diggs, Tennessee's Jacious Sears, and Ole Miss McKenzie Long, expect it to be a fast race.

Although Chukwuma hasn't been in the best shape since running 7.09s earlier in the season, the speedster cannot be written off to spring up a major upset.

It'll be Chukwuma and Alfred's clash in several meetings this season, of which Alfred was victorious in all their battles. A win or sub-11s run will be a huge confidence boost for the Nigerian, who has not been at her best in the past few weeks.

Julien Alfred

Meanwhile, Nigeria's fastest man Favour Ashe will also race in a tough heat that has NCAA indoor champion, Terrence Jones.

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