Teenage sprint prospect Rosemary Nwankwo has received a late invitation to Nigeria’s training camp for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Abuja after changes to the athletics squad.
The development was confirmed on Wednesday by her school, Nigerian Tulip International College, as well as her club, N-Youth Sports Academy.
Nwankwo was left out of the original 29-member team announced by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, but her inclusion comes after the withdrawal of US-based sprinter Tima Godbless and Ella Onojuvwevwo from the squad.
The young athlete is, however, unlikely to report to camp immediately as she is scheduled to represent Nigeria at the CAA African U-18 and U-20 Championships in Dakar, Senegal, taking place from July 4 to 5.
The student-athlete has enjoyed an outstanding campaign this season. She featured in all three legs of the MTN Champs series before playing a role in Nigeria’s qualification for the women’s 4x100m relay at the World Championships during the World Relays in Gaborone, Botswana.
She also competed at the African Championships and later challenged for a place in Nigeria’s Commonwealth Games team during the National Trials held in June.
Once she joins the training camp, Nwankwo will team up with fellow sprinters Blessing Ogundiran, Rosemary Chukwuma, Miracle Ezechukwu, Olayinka Olajide and Obi Chukwuka.
This season, the rising star has recorded personal bests of 11.42 seconds in the 100 metres and 23.19 seconds in the 200 metres, underlining her growing reputation as one of Nigeria’s brightest young sprint talents.
